A Lutheran denomination is in the throes of reinstating a gay pastor and his companion to its clergy register.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church is an American entity based in Chicago. In a proclamation discharged on Tuesday, it elucidated that the Rev. Bradley Schmeling and the Rev. Darin Easler have been permitted for reinstatement.

Schmeling had functioned as the pastor of the St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta. He was eradicated from the churchs clergy register in 2007. The rationale for the eradication was that Schmeling was in a same-sex relationship with Easler. His homosexual association with Easler was the reason for his eradication.

The church, in the previous month, implemented modifications to the ministry policy papers. The implementation of these modifications will clear the path for eligible Lutherans, who are in openly answerable, permanent, monogamous and same-sex ties, to function as clergy.

Easler was eradicated from the clergy catalog in 2006 after he had been without a parish for three years.