A Lutheran leader has called on members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to maintain unity ahead of key votes to be taken on the role of gays in the Church.

The Rev James M. Child, director of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality, said he was “profoundly concerned that we not squander this great gift of unity” as schisms over the issue of homosexuality continue to grow.

Proposals were made to the denomination’s assembly on the ordination of homosexuals who are not celibate and the blessing of same-sex marriage, which Rev Childs said were written as “a plea that we work on it despite our differences.”

The weeklong meeting of the ELCA is being attended by more than 1,000 delegates who will vote on the issue on Friday, if there are no delays, after a debate was held yesterday.

Several delegates have criticised the proposed measures as being confusing and with an unclear impact.

The measures aim to affirm the church ban on ordaining sexually active gays and lesbians, while allowing for exceptions to be made by certain congregations and bishops if the candidate is in a secure relationship, among other conditions.

According to the proposals, blessings for same-sex unions would still be prohibited by the Church but the ministering of gay couples would be left to the discretion of the bishops and pastors.

The Rev Joseph Crippen, a Minnesota member of the Church Council said: “This issue should not be church-dividing”. He added: “Our unity in Christ is stronger than what divides us on this issue.”

More conservative Lutherans have planned to meet in November to consider forming an association with other traditional congregations.