wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Declines to Change Policy

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 21, 1999

ELCA ASSEMBLY DECLINES TO CHANGE POLICY
ON GAY AND LESBIAN PEOPLE IN ORDAINED MINISTRY
99-CWA-53-DM

     DENVER (ELCA) -- After more than one hour of debate, the 1999
Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
adopted a resolution "to decline to propose at this assembly any change
in the standards for rostered ministry related to non-celibate gay or
lesbian persons."
     The assembly turned down an amendment, 716 to 267, that sought to
suspend enforcement of ELCA policies that preclude the ordination of
practicing gay and lesbian people and expect ordained ministers to
abstain from homosexual sexual relationships.  It also defeated an
amendment, 559 to 414, calling for a churchwide consultation aimed at
proposing "strategies which might allow for the ordination of non-celibate lesbian and gay persons."
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 16-22 at the Colorado Convention Center.
There are more than 2,500 people participating, including, 1,038 ELCA
voting members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ
Known: Hope for a New Century."
     The resolution, which does not change standards for rostered
people, was adopted by a vote of 820 to 159.  It was in response to  a
proposal from the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod.  In addition to maintaining
current policies regarding ordination of gay and lesbian people, it
also:
     -- Received an inter-unit response to memorials, or proposed
resolutions, sent by synods to the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
     -- Acknowledged "the deep level of anxiety and anguish felt by
many members, whether heterosexual or homosexual, lay or rostered, male
or female, young or old, as this church addresses this concern."
     -- Continued discussion in the church of issues involving
homosexuality and the inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the life
and mission of the ELCA.
     -- Said that there is no "arbitrarily set timetable for concluding
the discussion" and that the church must "await a time of clearer
understanding provided by the Lord of the Church."
     -- Reaffirmed 1991 and 1995 Churchwide Assembly actions that "Gay
and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to
participate fully in the life of the congregations of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America."
     Most of the debate surrounded consideration of the two amendments
offered from the floor -- to suspend current policies relating to
ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian people and to seek strategies
that might allow for their ordination.
     Jay McDivitt, a college student and vice president of the ELCA's
Lutheran Youth Organization, told the assembly that he wants to "serve
the church" when he is finished with his schooling.  But that if he
falls in love with another man -- "a definite possibility," he said --
he won't be able to do that, because of current ELCA policies.  "It
hurts me deeply because this is wrong," he said, urging "a vote for
justice."
     The Rev. James Hanson, voting member from the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, said "What is legal is not necessarily moral.
It is not a justice issue; it is an issue of morality."
     When two of the ELCA's predecessor church bodies first ordained
women as pastors, they rejected a literal interpretation of a biblical
admonition for women to be silent in church, argued the Rev. Darlene
Muschett of the ELCA Upstate New York Synod.  "Why then do we use such a
literal, inerrant model of Scripture to prevent gays and lesbians living
in committed relationships" from being pastors?
     "At issue in this matter is nothing less than the authority of
Scripture," said the Rev. John H.P. Reumann, retired professor of New
Testament and Greek, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.  He
urged members to "look at the whole counsel of Scripture," not just
individual passages.
     Other issues raised in the debate included the consistency of
welcoming gay and lesbian people "to participate fully" in the life of
ELCA congregations, while prohibiting them from being ministers in the
church; whether or not a sense of being called to ministry is enough for
a person to be accepted into the ministry; and whether or not a deadline
should be set for ending the church's discussion of the issue.
     "This discussion shows how divided we are," said the Rev. William
Saunders of the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod, who urged adoption of the
resolution.
     The Rev. David C. Wold, bishop of the Southwestern Washington
Synod, also supported the committee, saying he "would not like to see
conversation shut down by what would appear to be a pre-emptive strike."
     At a news conference following the vote that supported the
resolution, the Rev. Joseph M. Wagner, executive director, ELCA Division
for Ministry, said the church believes conversation needs to continue
regarding homosexuality and especially the ordination of non-celibate
gay and lesbian people.
     "The church cares about that issue," Wagner said.  "The church is
not trying to avoid the issue.  It is concerned because it is a delicate
issue and will take care that all voices be heard."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html