Atlanta Gay Pastor Faces Expulsion

ATLANTA, GA -- Gay Lutheran pastor Bradley Schmeling is facing possible expulsion from his church for being in a gay relationship but says he will choose his partner over his vocation if he is disciplined.

Before becoming the pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta six years ago, Schmeling told the Bishop that even though he didn't have a boyfriend at the time, he would not rule out having a partner in the future. Neither did Smeling ever hide his sexuality from his congregation.

Now that Pastor Schmeling has a boyfriend, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, an umbrella organization that includes St. John's, is charging Schmeling with violating pastoral conduct guidelines for having gay sex.

If the committee chooses to discipline Schmeling, he will be stripped of his clerical title and authority. He is prepared for either outcome, claiming, "What I hope is that in the disciplinary process, I will be able to tell my story, and shed light on the church’s policy, which I think is destructive to the ministry of the church because good and otherwise qualified people are eliminated from the ministry."