What does Islam and Mormonism have in common with a synod of Lutherans? Apparently, the ELCA has joined the ranks of those who have received suspiciously politically expedient revelations from God, right on cue!

MINNEAPOLIS - The nation's largest Lutheran denomination took openly gay clergy more fully into its fold Friday, as leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to lift a ban that prohibited sexually active gay and lesbian people from serving as ministers.

Under the new policy, individual ELCA congregations will be allowed to hire homosexuals as clergy as long as they are in a committed relationships. Until now, gays and lesbians had to remain celibate to serve as clergy.

Imagine how inconvenient it would have been if God had revealed this to them during the 1950s — or a century after today — when it might not have been exactly at the cusp of a corresponding political trend in the USA.

I wonder what God's exact reasoning was for his complete reversal on this point. Did they interview him for the story? Any good quotes? "Sorry about the whole Mark 10:6 thing. Heh, that was just a little joke I was making at the time!" And I'm sure we'll allow the customary (formal or informal) exceptions for the 'open' marriage style so prevalent among gay 'married' couples. Shame straights can't avail themselves of the same options — think of the evangelistic opportunities they're missing.