After the acquittal of the evangelical Bremen pastor Olaf Latzel, there are increasing numbers of church voices criticizing the judgment of the Bremen district court and promoting an open, queer-friendly church.

The church president of the Evangelical Reformed Church based in Leer, Lower Saxony, Susanne Bei der Wieden, condemned Latzel's statements on homosexuality.

"Olaf Latzel's acquittal changes nothing: As a Christian who is committed to the Bible, I strongly condemn his homophobic statements," the church president posted on Twitter on Saturday.

At the same time, Bei der Wieden criticized the Bremen district court, which had acquitted Latzel on Friday of the charge of incitement to hatred: “The Bremen verdict unilaterally agrees with flat biblicalism.

But biblical theology bears witness to God as the creator of all forms of life.”

Queer hostility on Youtube

The Bremen district court acquitted the controversial evangelical pastor on Friday of the charge of hate speech.

It was about statements on homosexuality (AZ: 51 NS 225 JS 26577/20, 10/21).

In October 2019, the pastor said in front of 30 couples at a “biblical driving school for marriage” that homosexuality is a “degenerative form of society”.

A recording of it was published in March of the following year with the pastor's consent on the theologian's YouTube channel.

In the Hanover state church, the youth synod and state bishop Ralf Meister made a joint statement on Saturday against discrimination against queer people.

The state church is committed to the equal participation of all people in church and social life, according to the statement presented at the spring conference of the state synod.

All people of all gender identities and diverse sexual orientations are welcome.

EKD does not want any discrimination

Meanwhile, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) reaffirmed its liberal stance on dealing with homosexuality.

She rejects any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity for theological and ethical reasons, according to the EKD Instagram account and on Twitter: "This applies regardless of all court decisions." All people, including "members of the LGBTQI+ community are called to shape their partnership based on the biblical commandment to love”.

On Friday, Bishop Thomas Adomeit of Oldenburg also expressed regret for Latzel's acquittal.

“The court has drawn a broad framework for freedom of expression.

That is to be accepted,” said the bishop on the sidelines of his church’s synod, which was meeting in Oldenburg: “Nevertheless, I do not approve of Pastor Latzel’s statements.”

It is unclear how disciplinary proceedings will end that the Bremen Evangelical Church has brought against Latzel and that are ongoing regardless of the verdict.

The proceedings are suspended until the district court has reached a final decision.