Compelled by the gospel of Jesus Christ to seek justice, Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) expands ministry opportunities for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the Lutheran church.
Welcome
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries credentials and rosters qualified candidates of all sexual orientations and gender identities for ministry; supports these pastors by connecting them with congregations who are committed to the full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Lutheran life and ministry; provides mission grants to support the ministry of its rostered members; and provides a network of support to congregations and pastors.
Statement Following the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
Halleluiah! What an amazing time to be a Lutheran! Immediately following the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's historic votes to allow congregations to recognize same-sex relationships and to allow ordination of people in same-sex relationships, many people have asked: "What does this mean for Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries?"
In the coming weeks and months we will be talking with supporters, ELM Roster members, affiliated congregations, coalition partners and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We will be gathering responses, reactions, questions and reflections to inform our work in the days and weeks to come. Working together with our partners in this movement, ELM remains committed to supporting the full inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of the church as we explore together what that means in light of the ELCA's recent decisions.
We express our profound gratitude to Lutherans Concerned/North America and the Goodsoil coalition for their hard and successful work to organize within the church to enact policies that welcome and support people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We joyfully celebrate together during this time of watershed change in the Lutheran church!
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries is the result of a twenty year movement within the Lutheran church to affirm the calls of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. For a long time, we have been saying yes in the face of church policies that said no to the gifts and talents of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual pastors. We express our deep appreciation to the members of the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Roster and the congregations that have opened their call process to our roster, and all those who have demonstrated for many years what it looks like to affirm the calls of lesbian, transgender, gay and bisexual people. We remember and grieve the loss of those who resisted these policies as long as possible, but who left our denomination, or the Church, or did not live to see this day. We recognize that there are still pastors for whom the possibility of coming out is tempered by the reality that they may be serving in a congregation or synod that may not affirm their call based on sexual orientation or gender identity. We pray that someday all people may live and serve openly and authentically without fear of rejection from their church.
We will continue to keep you informed about further developments for ELM.
Out of the Extraordinary: Benefit Album:
The project, titled Out of the Extraordinary is a compilation album project to raise visibility of the issue of ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer (GLBTQ) pastors and raise funds for scholarships and debt relief for the GLBTQ pastors that have chosen to be or have been forced outside of the ELCA roster of pastors.
The CD includes a range of LGBT, Lutheran and other supporters. It includes the Indigo Girls, Sara Thomsen, Jonathan Rundman, Richard Colligan, Dakota Road, Bread for the Journey, Judy Fjell (former LLGM board member), David Maxon (son of LLGM board member Ellen Maxon), Agape (Lutheran hip-hop artist), The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and The Transcendence Gospel Choir, among others who have donated songs to the project. Learn more...
Our Journey to Become Extraordinary Lutheran Ministires:
Learn more about how Lutheran Lesbian & Gay Ministries, the Extraordinary Candidacy Project and the Extraordinary Candidacy Project Roster became Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. Learn more and read our founding documents...
Our Benefit Album
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Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries
2649 N Francisco Ave
Chicago, IL
60647
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