A church in North Dakota has said that yesterday’s vote at the national Evangelical Lutheran Church meeting in America against the ordination of gays and lesbians reflects what many members were thinking.

Delegates attending the meeting, held in Orlando, Florida, rejected proposals to make exceptions to its policies on homosexual members that would allow those in same-sex relationships to become ordained.

The narrow no-vote effectively upholds the existing prohibitions of the Church which reflect traditional Biblical teachings on homosexuality.

Anita Hill, whose ordination by St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church four years ago was not recognised by the wider church because she is a lesbian in a committed relationship, said the ELCA had turned its back on its “faithful church”.

“For the sake of the illusion of unity, this church has just made expendable the faithful lives of those in same-gender relationships whom God has called,” said Hill.

But Bishop Rick Foss of the ELCA’s North Dakota Synod told The Forum that the voting members did what they thought was most faithful. He said he has not found a theological basis for changing policy.

Commenting on Friday’s vote, he said: “I think it really does reflect the study of where people across the church are.”

Phyllis Olson, an ELCA associate in ministry, believes the vote represents the views of most of the church members and is supported by scripture.

“The ministry (to gay and lesbian people) is certainly there and the welcoming is still there, but to change what we have had for hundreds of years is not the right direction,” said Olson. “I feel the people have spoken.”

Others in the Church have also strongly opposed the move to relax rules of procedure for gay member of the Church. Roy Harrisville III, Executive Director of Solid Rock Lutherans, said it was clear the Assembly did not approve of such ceremonies: “It showed it wanted to remain faithful to the Word of God.”

The proposals were put forward by a special Church taskforce as a compromise between those that supported same-sex blessings and the majority who oppose any such move.

The taskforce, led by Rev James M. Childs, director of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality, has been accused of suggesting proposals designed to lead to blessings for same-sex unions.

The proposal was defeated by only a 503 – 490 vote.