KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- It's a decision that could change the face of the nation's largest Lutheran church.

Friday the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted on new rules for gay ministers. By a difference of a mere one hundred votes, ELCA will now allow gays be sexually active, in a committed relationship.

Previously, only celibate homosexuals were allowed to be ordained. At the biennial ELCA assembly in Minneapolis, more than 1000 voting members, the church's policy was changed. The final vote count was 559 to 451 in favor of repealing the ban on gay clergy.

In Knoxville, Lutherans worshiped as usual Sunday.

Greg LaRose is a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Farragut. "I don't see it as an issue, it's something that already existed," says LaRose, "You hope it's something that people could get passed, and people are able to live freely, no matter their choice."

Faith Lutheran Associate Pastor Matt Simpkins told us, this is only one issue and certainly not the most important issue the church is facing now.

The congregation of Messiah Lutheran on Kingston Pike sent their Pastor, Eric Murray, as a delegate to the assembly.

Congregations there and at Peace Lutheran on Cedar Bluff are still digesting the news, and how it will affect their place of worship. It will ultimately be the decision of each church whether or not to welcome gay clergy into hire.

Not every church is rejoicing. Nationwide, some ELCA churches are discussing independence. But the church maintains that this change is designed to be inclusive, not exclusive.

LaRose agrees. "I think it's pretty progressive and I would say, anybody would be welcomed, for sure."

The church says they will work out the processes to implement the decision in the coming months.