CONVERTING THE CONGREGATION: Out New Jersey pastor Jeff Ziegler attends an evening service during the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America biennial assembly Aug. 6-11 in Chicago. Ziegler joined efforts to overturn the defrocking of an Atlanta pastor who came out last month.

An organization that works for the inclusion of GLBT Lutherans in all aspects of their church and congregations recently attended an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America biennial assembly to oppose the defrocking of an out reverend.

Lutherans Concerned fought the removal of the Rev. Bradley Schmeling from the ELCA clergy roster at a press event Aug. 8 in Chicago.

Schmeling, who was pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Atlanta, one of ELCA’s fastest-growing congregations, was defrocked July 2 after publicly discussing his relationship with his same-sex partner.

New Jersey gay pastor Jeff Ziegler joined hundreds of Lutherans Concerned participants at the event to voice his opposition to the defrocking.

Ziegler, a 41-year-old interim pastor at Reformation Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, said he attended the assembly to advocate for a change in ELCA’s discriminatory policy, which requires openly gay clergy to remain celibate.

ELCA leaders voted 538-431 to postpone a decision on out clergy for two years.

They agreed to re-examine the matter at the 2009 assembly after a Lutheran task force completes an eight-year study on human sexuality.

While ELCA did not reach a decision, leaders did authorize Lutheran bishops to ignore the policy until 2009.

The decision did not reinstate the Rev. Schmeling.

“This has been an incredible learning and growing experience for our faith community,” Schmeling told the Associated Press. “Ultimately, we will be stronger and more whole as a community because of these hard-won lessons about faith and fairness.”

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t achieve full inclusion at the assembly,” Ziegler told PGN. “But I see it as progress. I believe we will achieve full inclusion. It’s not a matter of if, but when.”

Ziegler said his experience at the assembly was very positive.

“I attended with my partner, Scott, and our two children,” he said. “We were warmly received and spent time having breakfast or lunch with people from across the country. We just spent time being ourselves and showing people what same-sex families look like. My boys participated in a worship service lead by Pastor Schmeling, and they were treated magnificently. It was a powerful experience to sit down with other gay and lesbian pastors and share our experiences. I was amazed by the sense of peace that I felt surrounded by.”

Ziegler came out to his congregation, where he has served for a year and a half, late last month.

“My orientation was a topic of conversation, and by coming out, I’ve become a part of that conversation,” he said. “There are people who support me and there are others who struggle with having a gay pastor. Others come in spite of me because their faith in God is so strong, and I thank them for their devotion. My bishop has also been very supportive.”

Ziegler said he plans to have discussions with his bishop about the policy and continue to advocate locally for policy change.

Casey Bell can be reached at casey@epgn.com.