The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is debating gay and lesbian clergy at its national assembly taking place in Chicago this week.

Chicago Public Radio’s Jason DeRose reports.

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This morning, as the nearly 11-hundred voting members gather on Navy Pier, they’re being offered a devotional booklet written by a recently ousted gay pastor. Rev. Bradley Schmeling’s bishop in Atlanta removed him from ministry earlier this year for being in a same-sex relationship. Celibacy is required of gay and lesbian pastors but not straight ones. The devotional booklet includes the names of more than 80 current Lutheran pastors and seminarians who are coming out publicly as gay in support of Pastor Schmeling. Emily Eastwood is among those working to change church policy.

EASTWOOD: The loss to the church of continuing a policy of discrimination is unmeasured.

The devotional booklet also includes the names of more than 100 people who’ve left the church because of its rules for gay clergy. A vote to change the Lutheran church’s policy could come by the end of the week.

I’m Jason DeRose, Chicago Public Radio.