The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has welcome several new homosexual clergy members to its roster less than a month after it reinstated two gay pastors who were previously dismissed for being in a homosexual relationship.

Six pastors from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) and two other previously dismissed pastors were added to the ELCA roster on Monday after the church's candidacy committee gave unanimous approval.

The Rev. Ross D. Merkel of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, and the Rev. Steven P. Sabin of Christ Church Lutheran in San Francisco were approved for reinstatement.

Sabin, who was dismissed in 1998 for being in a homosexual relationship, said that he was "relieved and happy that a long and painful episode in my relationship with my church family is ending."

"I look forward with hope to the restored partnership and opportunities for service that the actions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly and the Sierra Pacific Candidacy Committee have made possible," he added.

In 2009, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly called for revisions to ministry policy documents, making it possible for Lutherans in committed, publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships to serve as clergy and professional lay leaders.

The ELCA Church Council adopted the revisions to ministry policy documents April 10.

Other gay clergy members joining Sabina and Merkel include the Rev. Jeff R. Johnson, the Rev. Craig Minich, the Rev. Dawn Roginski, the Rev. Megan Rohrer, the Rev. Paul R. Brenner, and the Rev. Sharon Stalkfleet.

All of them hail from the Bay Area in California and are part of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, which is an organization that credentials qualified candidates of "all sexual orientations and gender identities" for ordained ministry.

"Twenty years ago when I was ordained, we could dimly imagine that Lutherans would one day fully recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," said Johnson in a May 24 ELM news release.

"I'm very thankful for all who have helped to carry this struggle forward and for our church which has finally opened up to the new and exciting future God has in store for us," he said.

The addition of the clergy members comes less than a month after the ELCA reinstated two other gay pastors, whose dismissal three years ago drew national attention.

In 2007, the Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling was removed from the ELCA clergy roster for being in a committed, same-gender relationship with the Rev. Darin Easler while serving as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta. The two pastors were reinstated on May 4.

"From the time I came out in the church in 1992, I never believed that I would retire as pastor in the ELCA. But with the policy change, for the first time ever I can imagine a full career of ministry in the church. That gives me a sense of peace, confidence and stability for my own future as a pastor," Schmeling said.

"I believe that we will learn to live in this new reality," the Rev. H. Julian Gordy, bishop, ELCA Southeastern Synod said. "I hope that people who don't personally support this change in ministry policy will be able to celebrate with St. John the restoration of their pastor to the roster."