One of the Roanoke Valley's largest evangelical Lutheran churches voted this afternoon to separate from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The split comes after the ELCA's decision last month to allow gays and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as clergy -- an issue that has been debated for years at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southwest Roanoke County.

More than 70 percent of the voting congregants favored the split. Today’s vote was the first step toward separation. After a visit from the Virginia Synod bishop next month, a second vote will be scheduled for January. A two-thirds majority is required to separate from the denomination.

Senior pastor Mark Graham said the church plans to affiliate itself with another association, the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.