Church increases donations to ELCA over gay clergy decision

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis is bucking a trend among Minnesota’s Lutheran congregations — it decided to increase “benevolence” payments to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America because of an August vote to allow the rostering of gay and lesbian pastors in committed relationships.

The move bucks the trend of churches leaving the ELCA over the gay clergy issue. More than a dozen churches in Minnesota have either left the ELCA or have announced their intention to do so since the controversial vote by the ELCA general assembly in Minneapolis in August.

According to the Star Tribune, the congregation at Holy Trinity was enthusiastic about raising their contributions, the Star Tribune reports. “I knew that Holy Trinity members were generally supportive of the decision, but I was surprised by how eager they were to increase their financial support in response,” said the Rev. Jay Carlson.

The benevolence payments go to missionary work, hunger programs and other charitable causes run by the ELCA.