Lutheran progress.

I'm writing to respond to "Gays Not Included" in the September 27 edition of The Advocate [Report]. The one-paragraph report on the recent actions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was inaccurate in at least one detail: The churchwide assembly referred to happens every two years, not every four. And without a doubt, the issue of the blessing of unions and ordination of gay and lesbian people in committed relationships will most certainly be back on the agenda at the next assembly.

I was a voting member of the assembly in August, and I think it's important to note a few things in the interest of fairness. First of all, the actions taken by the assembly came in response to recommendations from a four-year study that involved thousands of Lutheran clergy and laypeople. After intense work, the study task force found that the members of this church are deeply divided on the issues and that further prayerful study and conversation will be necessary before major changes can occur. This is not unlike the situation of other Protestant churches, including Methodists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, to name a few.

Also, the assembly did not change current policy, nor did it take the church backward. Proposals to make ordination standards stricter and more inflexible were soundly defeated, as were proposals to absolutely forbid clergy to participate in blessing same-sex unions.

Finally, like much of the United States, opinion in this church often varies depending on where people live and what they know of gay and lesbian people. More than one third of local synodical assemblies passed resolutions supporting a favorable change in policy. In New Jersey, for instance, proposals affirming blessings of relationships and ordination of gay and lesbian clergy passed with more than a three-fourths majority.

It is not all that helpful to characterize an entire church based on votes taken at a national meeting. Although I was disappointed by the votes, I have seen huge changes in our national assemblies. One day the whole church will come to the place where many pastors, congregations, and laypeople already are.

THE REVEREND BRUCE DAVIDSON Stockton, N.J.