wfn.org | Lutherans open Indianapolis convention

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Note #6786 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

10-August-2001
01271

Lutherans open Indianapolis convention

Same-sex unions, gay ordination are on the agenda

by Kevin Eckstrom
Religion News Service

INDIANAPOLIS - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America opened its
biennial Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis Aug. 8, and church leaders say
Episcopalians are closely monitoring any changes to a full communion
agreement between the two churches.

	The highest legislative body of the 5.1 million-member ELCA will meet
through Aug. 14. The 1,040 voting delegates will elect a new presiding
bishop to succeed Bishop H. George Anderson, who is retiring after his
six-year term.

	At a press conference, Anderson said delegates will tackle the thorny issue
of blessing same-sex unions. The church has no official policy on same-sex
unions, but church bishops said in 1993 that they do not approve of them.

	One proposal before delegates would develop resources for discussions on
what the services might look like and what they would mean.

	Delegates are also expected to debate whether a church ban on non-celibate
gay clergy should be removed. If the policy is left intact, pro-gay groups
within the church promise mass demonstrations and arrests on Aug. 13.

	Anderson said Episcopal Church leaders are wary about altering a full
communion agreement between the two churches. The "Called to Common Mission"
agreement allows both churches to exchange clergy and sacraments, but some
Lutherans object to a provision in which the ELCA adopted the Episcopal
practice of ordination by a bishop, not a pastor.

	"My discussions (with the Episcopal Church) have been very frank but not at
all rancorous," said Anderson, adding that Episcopal leaders have expressed
"real concern."

	At a meeting of the 67-member Conference of Bishops, church bishops pledged
to help a three-year campaign to pray for and financially support Africa.
The campaign is coordinated by relief agencies in the ELCA and the smaller,
more conservative Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

	The bishops' resolution on Africa promised "to urge congregations and
pastors in (their) respective synods to provide special efforts of support
and advocacy" for the Africa campaign.
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