wfn.org | Lutherans Address Variety of Issues in Early Synod Assemblies

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 8, 2001

LUTHERANS ADDRESS VARIETY OF ISSUES IN EARLY SYNOD ASSEMBLIES
01-146-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Twenty-one of the 65 synods of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) completed their annual assemblies
between April 20 and May 31.  Voting members addressed a variety of
churchwide issues, including implementation of a full- communion
agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, evangelism and mission,
and concerns related to gay and lesbian people.  Nine synods elected or
re-elected bishops.
     The remaining synod assemblies will be completed by June 24.  In
August, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, consisting of 1,040 voting members
from throughout the church, will meet in Indianapolis.  The churchwide
assembly is the ELCA's highest legislative authority.
     According to reports received by the ELCA Department for Synodical
Relations by May 31, half of the 21 synods adopted resolutions or
memorials related to implementation of "Called to Common Mission" (CCM),
the full-communion agreement of the ELCA and Episcopal Church.  A
memorial is a resolution which calls for specific action by the
churchwide assembly.
     The ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted CCM in 1999, and the
Episcopal Church General Convention adopted it in 2000.
     CCM calls on both churches to share in a variety of ministries
and, under certain circumstances, allows for a pastor of one
denomination to serve in a congregation of the other.   One
controversial requirement of CCM for Lutherans is that bishops must
preside at all Lutheran ordinations.  Before CCM was implemented January
1, bishops presided at most ordinations but could delegate that
authority to other pastors.
     Some Lutherans, critical of CCM, say the agreement gives more
power to bishops, imposes the "historic episcopate" on the church and
threatens Lutheran identity.  The historic episcopate, brought to CCM by
the Episcopal Church, is a succession of bishops back to the early days
of the Christian church.  Some have called for modifications of CCM or
have said they will not abide by some of its requirements.  Some
advocate for overturning CCM.

VARIETY OF CCM-RELATED RESPONSES OFFERED
     A proposal that originated in the Minneapolis Area Synod in 2000
was adopted by  assemblies of the Pacifica Synod, Western North Dakota
Synod and Saint Paul Area Synod.  Known as "Call to Freedom," the
memorial calls for the churchwide assembly to adopt a series of
constitutional amendments to accommodate church leaders who cannot
accept some CCM requirements.  The New Jersey Synod assembly defeated
the Call to Freedom memorial.
     The Southwestern Washington Synod assembly adopted two similar
memorials, asking for the churchwide assembly to "honor and celebrate"
the work of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, which endorsed a proposal
that may allow some candidates to be ordained by pastors other than
their bishops.  That proposal will be acted on at the churchwide
assembly.  The synod assembly also asked the churchwide assembly to
recognize that receiving the historic episcopate should not be required
of Lutheran bishops, pastors, seminarians, lay ministers or members.
     Two synod assemblies -- Northeastern Minnesota and Western Iowa --
called for action on the official status of a resolution that interprets
CCM.  Known as the "Tucson Resolution," the proposal was adopted in 1999
by the ELCA Conference of Bishops when it met in Tucson, Ariz.  It
offered a series of the bishops' understandings of CCM, and it was
provided as information by the ELCA Church Council to the 1999 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly.  The Western Iowa Synod assembly adopted the Tucson
Resolution as part of its action.
     One proposal that has been offered to amend CCM -- a bylaw -- will
be acted on at the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.  It would allow a
synodical bishop, under certain circumstances, to delegate to an
ordained pastor the authority to preside at an ordination.
     The Southeastern Synod assembly adopted a memorial opposing the
proposed bylaw.
     The Oregon Synod assembly defeated a proposal to allow for
flexibility in ordinations. The Montana Synod assembly considered but
did not adopt two resolutions on CCM.  Its voting members also soundly
defeated a proposal to amend the synod's 2002 budget to drop mission
support funds for churchwide ministries.  A few congregations have
withheld mission support funds as a protest to CCM.

GAY AND LESBIAN ISSUES ADDRESSED
     At least four synods took actions related to inclusion of gay and
lesbian people in the church. The Saint Paul Area Synod assembly asked
for changes in the church's policy that prohibits people from entering
the ordained ministry if they do not "abstain from homosexual sexual
relationships," as stated in the ELCA's standards for ordained
ministers.  The assembly also called for synod bishops to consider
exceptions to the policy until the churchwide assembly can change it.
     The synod assembly also adopted a resolution supporting Anita C.
Hill, who serves at St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Paul.  She
was ordained in April.  Hill is not in compliance with the church's
policy, and therefore her ordination is not recognized by the ELCA.
Since the ordination a bishop who participated, the Rev. Paul W.
Egertson, Southern California (West) Synod, resigned effective July 31
following conversations with the Rev. H. George Anderson, ELCA presiding
bishop.
     The Rocky Mountain Synod assembly urged its congregations to
become "Reconciling in Christ" congregations, which reach out to and
affirm the inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the church.  The New
Jersey Synod assembly voted to enter into a year-long process to become
a Reconciling in Christ synod, with a final vote expected in 2002.
     Without taking a position, the Southeast Michigan Synod assembly
asked the churchwide assembly "to call for development of a social
statement on homosexuality" to be presented to the 2005 churchwide
assembly.  It asked for guidance for synods and congregations on
blessings of same-sex relationships and whether ordination policies
should be changed.  It asked for seminary faculties and the ELCA
Conference of Bishops to be consulted in creating such a statement.

EVANGELISM AND MISSION CONCERNS RAISED
     At least three synod assemblies -- Southeastern Iowa, Southeastern
Pennsylvania and Southeastern -- adopted a similar memorial on
evangelism.  They called on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to focus the
ELCA's commitment to mission and asked the presiding bishop to establish
a "blue ribbon" task force to develop a "comprehensive evangelism
strategy."  Such a strategy could be submitted to the 2003 Churchwide
Assembly for action, the memorial said.
     The 2001 Churchwide Assembly is set to hear a report on the
church's evangelism efforts in the past decade and consider adoption of
a new strategy.
       The Northeastern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod (NTNL) assembly
asked the churchwide assembly to develop a plan to strengthen a focus on
evangelism and discipleship.  The Oregon Synod assembly set forth a 12-
year initiative to increase mission work in the synod.

MANY OTHER ISSUES ADDRESSED
     + Race relations: The Alaska Synod assembly spoke against racially
motivated crimes, encouraging congregations and pastors to support
Alaska native peoples and asked for educational materials to be made
available to congregations.  The NTNL assembly supported an observance
known as "Erase the Hate Day," opposing hate crimes, and the
Southeastern Synod assembly endorsed the "Birmingham Pledge," which
promotes racial equality and healing, and it asked the churchwide
assembly to endorse it; the pledge is named for Birmingham, Ala., a
place that was the site of racial unrest and a focal point of the civil
rights movement in past years.
     + Reducing guns and violence: The Rocky Mountain Synod assembly
urged members to remove guns from their homes, or store them in a secure
place and enroll in gun safety courses.  It asked for the churchwide
assembly to advocate for support and resources that would enable synods
and congregations "to fulfill the promise" of the Decade to Overcome a
Culture of Violence, an ELCA effort that focuses on peace in society.
     + Death penalty: The NTNL assembly called for moral deliberation
on the death penalty.  It asked its bishop to call on the Texas
Legislature to stop executions until a process can be implemented to
ensure fairness. Among other things, it called for prohibitions on the
death penalty for people under age 18.  The ELCA churchwide assembly
adopted a social statement opposing the death penalty in 1991.
     + Abortions: The Indiana-Kentucky Synod assembly stated its
opposition to "partial-birth" abortions and called on the churchwide
assembly to amend its social statement on abortion to address the issue.
The Saint Paul Area Synod assembly asked the churchwide assembly to
direct the ELCA Board of Pensions to limit payment for abortions "to
those exceptional cases where the life of the mother is threatened, or
in instances of rape, incest or where the embryo/fetus has defects
incompatible with life." The phrase appears in the ELCA social statement
on abortion, adopted in 1991 by the churchwide assembly.
     + Welfare/food stamps: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod
assembly adopted a resolution advocating for welfare reform.  The New
Jersey Synod assembly asked for re-authorization of Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families programs, including food stamps, child care support
and Medicaid; and it asked the churchwide assembly to support and
advocate for these programs.
     + Middle East: The Alaska Synod assembly asked the church to
continue its prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East, and called for a
cessation of U.S. aid to Israel until "the same standards for
accountability are enforced as required of other countries and areas for
U.S. aid."  It asked that the United Nations honor a Palestinian request
for international protection.  The assembly asked the church, through
its legislative and advisory bodies, to endorse the resolution.
     + "Stand With Africa: A Campaign of Hope": The Saint Paul Area
Synod, Northeastern Minnesota Synod and New Jersey Synod assemblies
endorsed this effort.  The campaign focuses on issues significant to
Africa, including HIV/AIDS, food security, and peace and reconciliation.
The three-year campaign is being coordinated by the ELCA World Hunger
Program,  Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) World Relief and
Lutheran World Relief, the overseas relief and development agency of the
ELCA and LCMS.
     In addition, the Saint Paul Area Synod assembly asked the church
for more resources and training on global warming; the Northeastern Ohio
Synod assembly asked the church for prayer, resources and financial
resources to combat foot-and-mouth disease, and it asked for strategies
to support multiethnic and multicultural communities; the Rocky Mountain
Synod assembly called for prayer on the issue of a Strategic Missile
Defense system, and asked for study and discussion in 2002; and the
Indiana-Kentucky Synod assembly asked the church to help organizations
and synods structure programs and services for older adults, asking the
presiding bishop to convene a group to develop specific plans for
programs and services.

BISHOPS RE-ELECTED, ELECTED
     Through assemblies completed by May 31, three new bishops were
elected.  They are the Rev. Edward R. Benoway, Florida-Bahamas Synod;
the Rev. Michael A. Last, Western Iowa Synod; and the Rev. Richard R.
Omland, Montana Synod.
     Six bishops were re-elected.  They are the Rev. Gary L. Hansen,
North/West Lower Michigan Synod; the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Saint Paul
Area Synod; the Rev. Marcus J. Miller, Northeastern Ohio Synod; the Rev.
E. Roy Riley, New Jersey Synod; the Rev. Paul R. Swanson, Oregon Synod;
the Rev. Ronald B. Warren, Southeastern Synod.
-- -- --
     Information about synods, including the schedule for synod
assemblies is at http://www.elca.org/sr/regions.and.synods.html on the
ELCA's Web site.

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