Expulsion from the ELCAOn Jan. 1, 1996, St. Francis Lutheran Church was expelled from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), becoming an independent Lutheran congregation. Also expelled was another San Francisco congregation, First United Lutheran Church. (See news articles.) The expulsion was the last step in a process that began five years before. St. Francis and First United were suspended from the ELCA in 1990 after an ecclesiastical trial. The church charged us with breaking synod rules on ordinations after we ordained two lesbian women and one gay man as pastors. Those two women -- Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart -- served on our staff through 2004. The man, Jeff Johnson, served First United for ten years and in early 2000 became pastor of University Lutheran Chapel, Berkeley, Calif. At the time the suspension was handed down, it was widely expected that church rules would change soon and the suspension would be lifted. Instead, conservative church forces prevented rule changes, and at the end of 1995 we were expelled from the ELCA. St. Francis this stand because of our firm belief that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are called by God, the same as anyone else, to serve as pastors, teachers, and other roles in the church. Since the ordinations of Ruth, Phyllis and Jeff, we have been mightily blessed by their service and leadership. We continue to stand by them as our pastors and through Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries (LLGM). Both St. Francis and First United took steps during months preceeding the expulsion to pass new bylaws that would establish us as independent congregations in the event of our expulsion. We look forward to continuing our ministries in our respective neighborhoods. In September, 1999, Pr. Jeff Johnson was called by Univeristy Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley, Calif.
Go back to the St. Francis home page Last updated 27 Nov 05 by M.P. |