When Martin Luther nailed his theses to the door of the Wittenberg cathedral, he was acting on conscience, backed up with research and well thought- and prayed- out arguments. He was doing what was right for him, what God had called him to do. Of course, the Roman Catholic and Lutheran denominations are still divided, but no longer is the Church selling indulgences. Also, many of both denomination’s congregations are accepting one another through ecumenism and learning that we are all one body, one Church, despite our denominations.

There are many people, myself included, whose conscience tells them that homosexuals are being mistreated by the Church’s exclusion of them, from individuals who feel uncomfortable at services to those who feel called to ministry and cannot follow that call because of their orientation. Conscience is a gift from God, but no substitute for scripture, tradition and reason. Thus, through conscience we research what we can, and pray about it, and will hopefully make what changes are necessary for “life abundant.”

As for denominations getting back together after a split, the United Methodist church became united after over a hundred years of separate “ME” and “ME South” denominations, among others, who had divided over slavery and other issues prior to the American Civil War. Despite their long split, they were again united and continue to be. I hope that whatever the Church finally decides about homosexuality, one day it will come back together and release the old divisions.