Lutheran World Federation (LWF) President the Rev. Mark S. Hanson has urged Lutheran churches with differing views on homosexuality to engage in respectful conversation over the matter rather than take polarized stances.

"Some churches discuss these issues in relation to creation, others from the starting point of the doctrine of the two kingdoms and others approach them from the biblical context," Hanson told reporters in Germany at the LWF's Eleventh Assembly. "Rather than starting from a position of judgment and assuming that some churches are following Scripture and others are not, it would be more helpful to first examine how our own tradition, context and understanding of Scripture have framed our views on this subject."

Hanson further noted that he senses a "growing desire" among churches to identify themselves as "truly Lutheran" based on their views on the issue.

"I sense that there is a growing desire on the part of some to look at our rich, shared confessions not as a reason for conversation about how we can live in that confessional tradition, but rather as a way of determining who is truly Lutheran and who is not. That would be an unfortunate breakdown," he said.

Hanson, who is also the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is among the proponents of allowing openly gay clergy to serve in ministry – an issue that has stirred controversy with groups such as the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, who have said that the ELCA's position is not biblical.

The LCMS recently resolved to offer a "thorough" theological response to the ELCA's statement on human sexuality – a move that Hanson and ELCA officials have welcomed.

"The ELCA social statement recognizes that there is not agreement on the concept of same-gender relationships, and we have pledged to respect the bound consciences of all, while maintaining our unity in Christ above all," said ELCA ecumenical officer Rev. Donald J. McCoid last week.

Hanson's most recent statements about homosexuality were made during a discussion about ecumenism between faith traditions, which the LWF president said that he is "very grateful" to participate in, according to an Lutheran World Information (LWI) release.

Hanson noted in particular that he would like to see more churches partaking of the Eucharist together, and called on Lutherans to "continue the dialogue about theological issues that still prevent us from communing together."

The LWF president added that "grassroots ecumenism" is alive and well among lay people of different churches who often "pray together, study together and work together to build just societies."

Hanson's call was affirmed by recently retired Vatican ecumenical officer Cardinal Walter Kasper, who described his cooperation with the LWF as "rich and enriching."

"I was more than surprised to see such a rich harvest and that we have achieved much more than we could even dream before. There has been no ecumenical winter," Kasper said, noting the "milestone" 1999 signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.

Kasper added that ecumenical dialogue must continue alongside the two churches' "common responsibility" to help those in need, which is an issue where Lutherans and Roman Catholics "can no longer afford our differences."

"Our dialogues must continue," Kasper said, "but at the same time we have to reflect on how to engage more in common cultural, social and environmental projects."