Juris Cālītis, who is the dean of the theology department of the University of Riga and a pastor of the Riga Reformation Evangelical Lutheran and the Riga St. Savoir Anglican parishes, was dismissed from the church yesterday.

Another pastor, Varis Bogdanovs of the Cross parish, was given “a disciplinary penalty”.

In their statement, the Riga Reformation parish said that both pastors have been “punished for their connection with the first lesbian and gay Pride March and a church service that took place at the Anglican church of Riga following the March on July 23, 2005.”

■  Juris Cālītis and Varis Bogdanovs during the church service at the Riga Anglican church following the first LGBT Pride March, 23 July 2005

Juris Cālītis allowed the openly gay pastor and previously excommunicated LELC pastor Māris Sants, one of the Pride March organisers, to host a service at the Anglican church of Riga.  Juris Cālītis stated that the LELC tried to ban this service.

The Parish said that both pastors knew that “persecuted by society, lesbians and gays are also excluded by the church”.

The statement continued:  “The church was central in provoking thousands of lynch-willing protesters to came out to the streets [and] Juris Cālītis decided not only to allow the service but also to support excommunicated Māris Sants.

Archbisop Jānis Vanags had on many occasions expressed his view on gays and had condemmed Gay Pride.

According to the LELC decision, both pastors were called to sign a document explaining their participation during the Pride service by November 16.  But neither Juris Cālītis nor Vairis Bogdanovs accepted the LELC decision since they were “called to demonstrate their obedient acceptance of the LELC power and its instructions”.

The Riga Reformation parish expressed their deep disappointment that despite the fact that the LELC leadership was invited to openness, discussion and tolerance during and after the meting between the parish and the LELC, the LELC leadership considered it more important to prevent any different views and strengthen their own controlling position.