ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 10, 2007
ELCA Assembly Continues Bible Study on Sexuality 07-CWA-028-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. David L. Tiede told the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that the greatest promise, richest gift received is the presence of Christ. Tiede, professor of vocation and religion, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, led Bible study Aug. 8-9 at the assembly.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,068 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
Tiede, a member of the ELCA Task Force for Studies on Sexuality, began the second part of the Bible study with thanks to the assembly for its participation in the Bible study and its deliberations, particularly on human sexuality.
"Imagine how rich our conversations and witness as a church will be as we allow ourselves to listen not as partisans on issues, but as forgiven sinners beloved by God. We have no illusions that the deliberations, debates and decisions will be untroubled," he said. "Our Lord did not promise it would be easy for us, but He did promise to be present with us."
The assembly's Bible study focused on the topic of human sexuality using the Book of Galatians -- Apostle Paul's letter to the people of Galatia. Tiede wrote the theological framework on Galatians for the task force's study, "Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor: Lutherans Talk about Human Sexuality."
"In his letter Paul draws us into the faith of Christ, the love of Christ, and even the law of Christ. Paul is, of course, encouraging our faith in Christ Jesus, our love for Jesus, and our obedience to our Lord," Tiede said. "But, (Paul) is also disclosing a deeper mystery -- (that) the faith of Christ is truly Christ's faithfulness to us."
Tiede used the task force's study to share with the assembly two insights that could "aid our listening to hear God's word of promise." First "it's all about the promises. Paul's rich and complicated history lesson scores the point that God began with promise," he said. Second, "it's all about Christ Jesus. (Paul's) conviction is that faith is not only that we believe, but that our trust in Jesus is the bond which Christ's own faithfulness comes alive in our lives."
In response to these two insights, Tiede offered the assembly two questions for discussion -- "When are your relationships not just running by the rules but alive with promise," and "when have you sensed Christ living in your relationships?"
"My prayer, dear friends, is truly that the word of Christ may dwell in all of us richly. That we may truly be ... caught up in Christ's bold, compassionate mission of love, inspired by his self-giving to the point of death," said Tiede. - - -
Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog