"Taken from the February 2013 "The Lutheran":
"While same-sex marriages became legal in New York in 2011, there wasn't much need for internal debate in most of the city's ELCA churches. 'Many simply said "Of course,"' said Bishop Robert Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod, who made it clear when he was elected tp the position in 2008 that he would act as an advocate for gay rights in the church and civic sphere." (emphasis, mine.) "To marry or not to marry..." (pg. 36)"
Take it for what you will...
Pax Christi;
Pr. Jerry Kliner, STS
Actually, that's interesting. It really was Robert Wollenberg who spoke a bit more strongly in favor of advocacy at the 2008 assembly when question on the GBLT issue. Robert Rimbo more or less said he would abide by the Churchwide stand (this is pre-2009). I know of quite a few suburban pastors who found it hard to decide between the two men and this is what tipped them to Rimbo. They were already anticipating the fallout in their congregations - and many did experience fallout as can be seen if one looks to mission support post-2009. Of course, Rimbo also announced he was running as a one-term bishop.....