wfn.org | ELCA declines to change policy on gays and lesbians

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Debate on possible strategies for ordination defeated

DENVER, United States of America/GENEVA, 25 August 1999 (lwi) - 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 meeting at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from 16 to 22 August, 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 relationships. Also
defeated was 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 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.

According to the ELCA's news and information service, ELCA News, most of the debate revolved around
consideration of the two amendments offered from the floor, namely 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 completes his schooling. However, if he falls in love with another man - "a
definite possibility," he stated, - 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."

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.

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."

(The LWF is a global communion of 128 member churches in 70 countries representing 58 million of the world's 61.5
million Lutherans. Its highest decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven years. Between
Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council which meets annually, and its Executive Committee. The
LWF secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information is the information service of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically
noted, material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
dateline of an article contains the notation (lwi), the material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

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