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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