A conservative Lutheran group wants to create a new national church, but the movement won't be taking local congregations along just yet.

The Rev. Garry White, pastor of Orangeburg Lutheran Church, says only three members out of a congregation of 300 have expressed strong opinions.

"Two were for staying, and one was for leaving," White said. "I expect that's about the extent of the pot boiling on this issue.

"This congregation is a community that seems to be dedicated to staying together. There is a sense of family here."

Leaders of Lutheran CORE are taking steps to form a new church. They want to break away from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran denomination in the country. The dissidents are at odds with the ELCA decision to allow sexually active gay and lesbian pastors to serve as clergy. The new policy was adopted at the annual convention in August.

White notes that while some congregations in other parts of the country have left ELCA, none in South Carolina have made that move.

"A number who are staying are redirecting their contributions to specific ministries, such as seminaries or world hunger, and not giving them to general ministries," White said. "That said, there is a new group of pastors who have formed the Orthodox Lutherans of South Carolina."

That group of 25 pastors issued a statement on its Web site -- reformfromwithin.com -- announcing its opposition to the ELCA 2009 Churchwide Assembly's decision allowing gay clergy.

The Rev. Wayne Young, pastor of Hope Lutheran in Vance, says he feels the controversy is much ado about nothing.

"The decision whether or not to accept a pastoral candidate submitted by the bishop is and always has been a congregational decision," Young said. "Some in our congregation are concerned about this issue, but we are not into that splitting-type mode.

"I wish we would spend as much time on growing the Kingdom of God as we spend on this. Let's get back to mission and ministry."

The South Carolina Synod of the ELCA is led by Bishop Herman M. Yoos, who voted against ordination of individuals in same-gendered relationships into the clergy.

Yoos also voted to permit individual congregations to recognize same-gendered monogamous relationships as an issue of justice.

"There have been a number of people who have visited CORE, and there have been some exploratory conversations," Yoos said. "I think (South Carolina congregations) don't want to jump ship right now because they know there is still a place for their voice to be heard. What isn't known is what forum will be provided for them in a new group."

"I am absolutely advising our congregations not to rush to make any decision," he said. "We should have thoughtful and holy dialogue about this, and listen for the voice of God on how we can faithfully respond."

White says his interpretation shows that the Scripture is against issuing the call for gay clergy. However, that does not translate into excluding homosexuals from the body of Christ.

"If people who are gay come to Orangeburg Lutheran Church, they would happily be received in the membership," White said. "There is nothing in this congregation to be concerned about.

"We all have needs and some degree of brokenness. The only requirement to be a Christian is you have to be a sinner."

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T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online

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