Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) is committed to the full participation of persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life and ministry of the Lutheran church.
Welcome
ELM provides financial, pastoral, and legal support to sexual minority pastors and to the congregations and organizations that support them. In addition we encourage congregations to consider calling sexual minority clergy approved by the Candidacy and Credentialling Ellipse. ELM has provided assistance to scores of Lutheran pastors, often after their congregations, colleagues and bishops have deserted them. Annually, ELM provides financial support to congregations who call our pastors.
First Extraordinary Call in Canada
Canada Congregation Votes to Call ELM Roster Member
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) is proud to announce that the members of the Newmarket Ontario, Holy Cross Lutheran Church (ELCiC) voted to call Lionel Ketola, which will result in the first extraordinary ordination in Canada.
Lionel first served at Holy Cross Lutheran Church as an intern, with the support of a grant from ELM (who was Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries at the time). Today the congregation voted to call Lionel as Associate Pastor, deployed as an Ambassador of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:16-21) in the ELCIC, to further the work of full inclusion in the ELCIC. Major funding for this position will come from a three year seed grant from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. Learn more about Lionel
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In Memoriam - Krister Stendahl, 1921-2008
Krister Stendahl, the Lutheran pastor and bishop emeritus who first used the words “extra ordinem” and “extraordinary” to describe the ordinations of openly gay and lesbian clergy, died on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, at the age of 86 after several years of illness. Read More
New Ways for Congregation to Get Involved with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries:
The biggest NEW part of the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries community is the role of congregations. In this new organization, congregations are critical to the movement. Congregations have an opportunity to affiliate with ELM as a way to actively live out their commitment to full inclusion in life and ministry of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the Lutheran church. Here are a few ways your congregation can get involved:
- Visit the Congregational Resources section of our website
- Become a Congregational Affiliate of ELM
- Include Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries in your congregation's benevolence giving (directly to ELM or earmarked in your synodical giving)
- Decide now to include members of the ELM Roster in your next call process
- Email the Congregations Ellipse Chair, Rev. Susan Strouse to talk about how your congregation can get involved or to invite ELM to share its mission with your congregation at at worship service, educational forum, council meeting or other event.
Join Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries at Hearts on Fire!
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Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries is proud to help underwrite Hearts on Fire. The Biennial Assembly and Reconciling in Christ Convention hosted by our coalition partner Lutherans Concerned/North America, Hearts on Fire is July 3-6 at San Francisco State University. Many members of the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries community attend these gatherings each year and look forward to connecting with old and new friends. If you have recently become involved with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, we hope you will join us at Hearts on Fire for a great opportunity to connect in person with others seeking the full inclusion and participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in Lutheran life and ministry. Learn more and register.
Out of the Extraordinary: Benefit Album:
The project, titled Out of the Extraordinary is a compilation album project to raise visibility of the issue of ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer (GLBTQ) pastors and raise funds for scholarships and debt relief for the GLBTQ pastors that have chosen to be or have been forced outside of the ELCA roster of pastors.
The CD includes a range of LGBT, Lutheran and other supporters. It includes the Indigo Girls, Sara Thomsen, Jonathan Rundman, Richard Colligan, Dakota Road, Bread for the Journey, Judy Fjell (former LLGM board member), David Maxon (son of LLGM board member Ellen Maxon), Agape (Lutheran hip-hop artist), The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and The Transcendence Gospel Choir, among others who have donated songs to the project. Learn more...
Our Journey to Become Extraordinary Lutheran Ministires:
Learn more about how Lutheran Lesbian & Gay Ministries, the Extraordinary Candidacy Project and the Extraordinary Candidacy Project Roster became Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. Learn more and read our founding documents...
Our Benefit Album
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