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A Canadian Lutheran church said it was to ordain its first gay pastor, who is married to another man, despite likely sanctions for breaking church teachings.

"The people of Holy Cross have issued a call to Lionel Ketola to serve as associate pastor,'' the Toronto-area church said on its website.

It said the ordination is "in violation of the ELCIC (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)'s discriminatory policy of excluding 'self-declared and practicing homosexuals' from the office of ordained ministry.''

But regardless, the church said it would ordain and hire Ketola.

The ordination of an openly gay Lutheran pastor would be a first in Canada, following more than a dozen such ordinations in the United States, said reports.

The Lutheran Church of Canada narrowly defeated a bid last year to allow the blessing of same-sex unions, and prohibits the ordination of openly gay pastors.

In a letter last month, posted on the church's website, Bishop Michael Pryse warned Holy Cross it would face disciplinary action if the ordination and hiring of Ketola went ahead.

"I am fearful that your actions have the potential to do irreparable damage to the already fragile connecting fabric of our church,'' he wrote in the letter.

Ref :news.com.au