wfn.org | ELCA Bishops Hear Upcoming Plans for ELCA Studies on Sexuality

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 15, 2003

ELCA Bishops Hear Upcoming Plans for ELCA Studies on Sexuality
03-186-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders working with the Studies on
Sexuality of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
said they are interested in responses to a new set of study
materials which were sent to professional church leaders in
September.  Also, the task force working with the study is
planning a series of hearings throughout the ELCA to be held in
mid- to late 2004.
      The Rev. James M. Childs Jr., director of the ELCA Studies
on Sexuality, and the Rev. Margaret M. Payne, bishop of the ELCA
New England Synod, Worcester, Mass., who serves as chair of the
task force, reported Oct. 6 on the progress of the studies to the
ELCA Conference of Bishops.
     The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a
bishop. The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body to the
church, consisting of the church's 65 synod bishops, ELCA
presiding bishop and ELCA secretary.  The conference met here
Oct. 2-6.
     "There is a depth and breadth of values at stake in this
discussion beyond a vote on a question of policy," Childs said in
his report.  "We may have policy issues to sort out, but we also
have ministry issues to sort out."
     In early September, the ELCA mailed about 18,000 copies of
"Journey Together Faithfully, Part Two: The Church and
Homosexuality" to the pastors and lay leaders of the church.  The
task force compiled the 49-page study guide and its background
essays to help the ELCA's 5 million members consider how the
church will respond in 2005 to specific questions about blessing
same-sex relationships and accepting lay and ordained ministers
in such relationships.
     In a discussion the Rev. Robert D. Berg, bishop of the ELCA
Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, Rice Lake, pointed out that "at
best," perhaps 20 percent of the congregations in his synod used
the first set of study materials issued in 2002.  And in each of
those congregations, 10 to 20 percent of the members
participated, he suggested.  Berg said he understands that
responses to the new materials are wanted, but he hoped that
would not mean a "dismissal of other points of view."
     Reaction to the new study materials is the primary
communication now, Childs said, and he said the task force is
still interested in other comments.
     Payne agreed, saying it is important for people to know that
others have successfully studied the new materials.
     "What we want is this learning and discerning process to go
forward," Childs said, and adding he hoped the new materials
would be used more than the first set.
     Berg said later he is hearing from members concerned that
conversations about issues of sexuality may be of a "divisive
nature."
     Two other bishops said the studies and accompanying
materials have spurred action in their synods.	The Rev. Marie C.
Jerge, bishop of the ELCA Upstate New York Synod, Syracuse, said
a "conflict team" in the synod invited members of the synod's gay
and lesbian task force to meet with them, to work together on
studies process issues and to encourage congregations to
participate.
     The Rev. James R. Stuck, bishop of the ELCA Indiana-Kentucky
Synod, Indianapolis, said his synod agreed to hold a synod-wide
gathering to discuss the sexuality issues.
     "I would much rather have our leaders engaged in this," said
the Rev. Peter Strommen, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern
Minnesota Synod, Duluth.  Strommen, who represents the Conference
of Bishops on the task force, said, "When people have these
discussions, they really find they are pretty helpful."
     The task force is developing a protocol for hearings on the
sexuality studies to be done in the second half of 2004, Childs
said.  More hearings are anticipated later as the task force
considers development of a social statement on human sexuality
for consideration by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly, he said.
     The new study booklet recommends that in the course of
congregation or synod discussions on the sexuality issues, people
with different points of view be included. That includes Lutheran
Christians who are gay or lesbian and people who may have sought
therapy for sexual-orientation concerns, Childs said.  He gave an
outline for such  conversations from the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada  to the bishops.
     The suggestion for the conversations is intended to respond
to a request from the 2003 Churchwide Assembly that was referred
to the task force, Childs said.
     The Rev. Marcus C. Lohrmann, bishop of the Northwestern Ohio
Synod, Findlay, said he hoped the church will see the study
process as "a gift for us."  The process could help the church
"discuss tough issues in the context of what it means to be
faithful," he said.
     The Rev. E. Roy Riley Jr., bishop of the ELCA New Jersey
Synod, Trenton, and newly elected Conference of Bishops chair,
said the ELCA bishops will engage in the new study materials
together at their annual academy in January.  He also said the
bishops hope to meet jointly with the task force sometime next
year.
-- -- --
"Journey Together Faithfully, Part Two: The Church and
Homosexuality" is available at
http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/ on the Web.  It is possible
for ELCA members to respond to the study guide online.

Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA, sells
printed copies of the documents. Call 1-800-328-4648 with the
publication number 6-0001-6848-9.

Purchases are also possible through
http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/ on the publisher's Web
site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news