CLEAR LAKE, IA---A North Iowa church congregation is voting to take the first toward breaking away from their national leadership.
A resolution adopted at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America convention in Minneapolis last August is causing the members of Clear Lake's Zion Lutheran church to question their connection to the ELCA.
It allows gays in a committed relationship to serve as pastors.
Previously homosexuals who were ministers had to be celibate.
Two-thirds of a church congregation must vote yes to break away from the ELCA.
On Sunday Clear Lake Zion Lutheran needed 238 yes votes, which is the exact number they got.
"I wish the vote hadn't been so close," said Parishioner Diane Widick, "I think we would have had a lot more unity and a lot more calmness as we go foreword, I was shocked that the vote was so close."
Many at Zion Lutheran want to break from the national group over the issue of gay clergy.
"The ELCA by this action has departed from our Lutheran traditions and heritage and from the Lutheran teaching and confession, said Reverend Dean Hess, “and I think no longer honors the authority of the scripture for a norm of faith and life."
Pastor Hess feels strongly on the subject, but doesn't want to make a decision alone.
"It's not the decision of necessarily one or two pastors or even the council," said Hess, "It belongs to the whole congregations and that's why we had to have this vote."
The vote is preceded by months of discussion and a final debate Sunday afternoon with 3 speakers from each view point.
"We disagree strongly with the ELCA and that's what prompted the council to offer this resolution," said Hess, "To look at the possibility of a different future."
Some are concerned breaking from the ELCA will affect their charitable donations through the national organization, but pastors are assuring their membership they will continue it, just independently.
"I think it's going to be an exciting time for Zion," said Hess, "We're going to be stronger in the long run."
Pastor Hess maintains Zion is not discriminating against gays as members of the church and welcome people from all different backgrounds.
Under ELCA rules, members of Zion Lutheran will have to vote again in 3 months.
If the outcome is yes, then the church will pull away from the ELCA.
