Reactions continue after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted to allow local congregations to hire noncelibate gay and lesbian pastors. Prior to the vote at last week\u2019s biennial ELCA assembly, there was vigorous debate about homosexuality and the clergy. Several participants spoke with Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly about their views. Watch Rev. Bob Rognlien of the Southern California West Synod; Rev. Christopher Berry of the Northwest Washington Synod; Rev. Cori Johnson of the Northern Great Lakes Synod; Rev. Bradley Schmeling of St. John\u2019s Lutheran Church in Atlanta; Rev. Mark Chavez of\u00a0Lutheran CORE; and Phil Soucy of Lutherans Concerned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"