Legislative reporter covers ELCA church assembly

John Croman, who covers the Minnesota legislature for KARE Channel 11 television in the Twin Cities, said he "drew the 'gay Lutherans' story, as one of my colleagues termed it," when the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to accept gay pastors in committed relationships to their "rostered" or certified clergy this week.

Croman's blog post, which recorded his observations of the ELCA vote, was headlined:

Just like the legislature, only with prayer breaks

Croman explained:

The 1,000 voting delegates this week dealt with a lot of important issues, but the one that drew the mainstream media's attention was an amendment that would allow individual congregations to seat gay pastors who are sexually active. With more than 4 million members nationwide, and 830,000 in Minnesota, the world would be watching.

Until now ELCA churches could call gay pastors, but those ministers had to remain celibate. The change would allow churches to hire pastors in same-sex relations that are "publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous" unions.

In many ways the floor debate on the change resembled the political skirmishes I cover at the State Capitol on a regular basis, with a couple of notable exceptions. Bishop Mark Hanson, who presided over the assembly, kept people to strict time limits, so there would be no filibustering to run out the clock.

And, most remarkable to those of us who dwell in the realm of secular politics, the delegates would be called to pause for prayers on a regular basis. This would be, after all, not a decision to be taken lightly or without seeking divine guidance.

In the speeches from the floor it was clear many were struggling with the task of squaring two Biblical tenets; the commandments to love one another, and to scriptures condemning homosexual acts.

The rest of it, Croman reported pretty much as you would floor debate in the Minnesota statehouse, or any other. It's a pretty balanced, sensitive job of covering a story that had lots of potential stylistic and ethical pitfalls, under the circumstances.