Triggered by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America‘s decision last year to allow non-celibate gay pastors to serve its congregations, a group against this decision has moved on to form The North American Lutheran Church.

USAToday reports that 18 churches throughout the country met Friday morning at the Church of the Nazarene in Grove City, Ohio, just south of Columbus, to solidify their new provisional Constitution.

Although there have been disputes within the ELCA for years, the present issue of homosexuality has torn apart the church even further.

“Some of these denominations have had these divisions since the 1980s, and the divisions become most clear around these kinds of social issues,” says Wendy Cadge, an associate professor of sociology at Brandeis University.

With three Lutheran churches in Kent, Ohio, Kent State students may see this new branch of the Lutheran faith reach our area in the near future.