Lutherans address homosexuality

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The American Lutheran Church plans to circulate a proposed policy statement that says homosexuals do not violate church teachings unless they engage in erotic behavior.

"Homosexually oriented persons who do not practice their erotic preference in no way violate our understanding of Christian sexual behavior," says the proposed statement drafted by the church's Standing Committee for the Office of Research and Analysis.

"It is when the homosexually oriented person regularly and consistently practices sexual behavior with one of that person's own gender that this church must take

exception," the committee said. "It (the church) regards homosexual erotic behavior as contrary to God's intent for his children."

The committee's 16-page draft statement, "Human Sexuality and Sexual Behavior," was described in a news release issued by the church last week.

The statement will be submitted to the church's 4,850 congregations for comments and revised on the basis of those evaluations before the committee offers it to the 1980 church convention.

The American Lutheran Church, with 2.4 million members, is one of three major Lutheran bodies in the United States and is generally regarded as middle of the road.