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ROY -- Members of a Lutheran church in Roy are voting in favor of a divorce from their parent organization. They are split over views on gay marriage.
Last August, the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted to ordain openly gay and lesbian pastors. Our Savior's Lutheran Church Pastor Chuck Sabin says that decision put him in an awkward spot.
"One of those vows is to preach and teach and lead according to the word of God," he says.
Sabin says his church isn't anti-gay, since Jesus Christ commands love.
"We can't dismiss gays and lesbians and their right, their human right, to be together," he says.
He sees gay marriage as a state issue, not for the churches to decide.
Sabin points out other Lutheran churches in Utah have already split from the ELCA, including congregations in Tooele and Sandy.
E-mail: bbruce@ksl.com
