An Evangelical Lutheran congregation that ordained an openly gay man two months ago has been censured by its supervising bishop.
Bishop Craig Johnson of the Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sent a letter last week to Bethany Lutheran Church in Minneapolis "censuring and admonishing" the congregation for the Aug. 1 installation of associate pastor Jay Wiesner.
The denomination bars ordaining gays unless they remain celibate.
Johnson said he had asked Bethany Lutheran not to ordain Wiesner at least until after the denomination had decided whether the gay ordination ban should stand and whether the church should bless same-sex couples. Evangelical Lutherans were expected to vote on those issues next year at their churchwide assembly in Orlando, Fla.
Johnson said he would not take any disciplinary action until after that vote, but he said the congregation had "willfully disregarded" his request.
"You pre-empted the ELCA's process by your decision," Johnson wrote. "This has put ordained leaders in our synod and the larger church in a difficult position with their congregations.
"You have broken an important and vital covenant with your fellow congregations."
Wiesner, who previously was Bethany's pastoral minister for outreach, said he has received nothing but "overwhelming support" from the congregation since his ordination.
"There are many gay and lesbian clergy who are unable to serve, and many are doing so in the closet, which is sad," Wiesner said. "Bethany has come to a conclusion that they want to be a positive influence in this process, with the hopes that the ELCA will move forward."