wfn.org | LC/NA 'Pleased But Cautious' in Response to ELCA Council Actions

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: LC/NA 'Pleased But Cautious' in Response to ELCA Council Actions
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>April 3, 2009  

LC/NA 'Pleased But Cautious' in Response to ELCA Council Actions
09-082-MRC

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans Concerned/North America
(LC/NA) is "pleased but cautious" in response to actions
taken by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) to send a "Report and Recommendation
on Ministry Polices" and a proposed social statement --
"Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" -- to the 2009 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly for consideration.

LC/NA, based in St. Paul, Minn., is an independent
Lutheran organization that relates to the ELCA through the
churchwide organization's Evangelical Outreach and
Congregational Mission program unit.

The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors
and serves as the legislative authority of the church between
assemblies, which are held every other year.  The council
met here March 27-30.  The 2009 assembly will meet Aug.
17-23 in Minneapolis.

The Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality released
the proposed social statement Feb. 19.  If approved by the
churchwide assembly, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust will
become the ELCA's 10th social statement.

The task force also released Feb. 19 a report and
recommendation for a process to consider changes to ministry
policies that could make it possible for Lutherans in
committed same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA
associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers
and ordained ministers.  The assembly will consider these
changes in four steps to be taken consecutively.

"For the first time in the history of our church, a
recommendation for the elimination of the policy of
discrimination against ministers in same-gender
relationships will come to the floor of the churchwide
assembly," said Emily Eastwood, LC/NA executive director,
in a March 31 news release.

Eastwood said the council's action to forward the
recommendation on ministry policies to the assembly for
its consideration is "a major step for justice and
equality."

Eastwood said the proposed social statement

"acknowledges what we have known for the last 30 years
that we Lutherans are not of one mind on issues of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion.  Still, this
document recognizes that lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people are and always have been part of the
great diversity of God's creation."

She said the statement "lifts up a common ethical
standard for straight and gay alike, but, sadly fails to
endorse a right or a rite of same-gender blessings or
marriage."

"At the same time," Eastwood said, "the statement
acknowledges that individual congregations of the ELCA are
already offering such rites which inherently hold couples
publicly accountable for living exemplary lives of fidelity,
mutuality and respect.  Ultimately, the church and society
cannot rightly expect monogamy (being married to one person
at a time) without offering a rite of marriage to same-gender
couples."

The council also voted to uphold its November decision
recommending the 2009 assembly require a simple majority to
adopt recommendations, resolutions, memorials or any other
motions originating from, or relating to the subject of a
task force report.

"This action by the Church Council is one of basic
fairness," said Eastwood.  "Any suggestion to change the rules
at the last minute would be seen as prejudicing the outcome
based on the content of the report and recommendation," she
said.  "We applaud this action of the council and pray that
the assembly will follow suit."
- - -

Information about Lutherans Concerned/North America is
at http://www.lcna.org on the Internet.

The task force's "Report and Recommendation on Ministry
Policies" and "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" are available
at http://www.ELCA.org/faithfuljourney on the ELCA Web site.

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