Lutherans split over gay pastors, Bible beliefs

GROVE CITY, Ohio (AP) — Critics of the country's largest Lutheran denomination and its more open stance toward gay clergy have formed a new denomination at a meeting here of a conservative activist group.

Members of Lutheran CORE voted overwhelmingly today to approve the creation of the North American Lutheran Church in Grove City in suburban Columbus.

The new denomination will consist largely of congregations leaving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over issues of adhering to scriptural authority.

Paull Spring, the new bishop of the North American Lutheran Church, says the ELCA's acceptance of openly gay pastors was a tipping point for many.

Spring and others attending the meeting say they are also concerned about the ELCA's use of language limiting masculine references to God.