“I also am convinced there is room in the body of Christ and the ELCA for a variety of understandings of Holy Scripture and questions about it. I am sorry that so many feel otherwise.”
This is what happens when a church no longer believes that the Scriptures teach THE truth, but that everyone is free to choose what is true for himself. The ELCA disregarded the prohibition against women pastors in Scriptures, so why should any of them be upset over the acceptance of practicing homosexuality? Once someone determines that they can pick and choose what they want and leave the rest, unity become impossible.
You do not make doctrine on whether or not you like someone: male, female, heterosexual or homosexual. You make it on objective principles. There is nothing more objective than, “God said.”
But really, where did “God say” women cannot be pastors?
*Paul* seemed to say it, but he also seemed to say it’s better not to marry; just “OK”. So why are we allowing pastors to marry if they are purveyors of God’s Word?
I sympathize with the traditional view, if only because women doing certain public services can be very impractical - when they get pregnant. But otherwise, I don’t know why.