SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's South Dakota Synod has turned down a plan to recognize and accept gay and lesbian members.
Delegates at the 14th annual ELCA's assembly meeting narrowly defeated the plan on Saturday, the final day of the three day meetings.
The group voted 258-238 to reject the program, which was proposed by a group called Lutherans Concerned-North America's Reconciling in Christ.
Brad Daniels of Toronto, a community northeast of Brookings said he thought the proposal went too far.
"We need to welcome gays and lesbians. We need to treat them with care and respect," he said. "But it says we are in support of gay marriage. I'm not ready to say that."
The delegates met at Augustana College's Elmen Center. Most of Saturday was spent discussing the church's stance on homosexuality.
Delegates first considered a resolution that directed the ELCA Church Council to authorize the Division for Church and Society to submit a statement on that issue for the 2003 assembly.
The statement was then amended to ask the Division for Church and Society to consider affirmations of biblical teachings on sex, unmarried persons' chastity, spouses' fidelity and God's forgiveness of sin.
Several pastors and an observer said the group shouldn't approve the plan without discussing the church's position.
"To say categorically this is the only one statement as to what sex is, is not true to Scripture," said Kay Richter of Hope Lutheran Church in Summit.
The Rev. Dennis Bielfeldt of Pioneer Lutheran Church in White said people have different ways of interpreting Scripture.
"We are justified on stating our opinion on what the Scripture says," he said. "The Scripture is always read through a permeable lens."