wfn.org | ELCA Council Affirms Plans to Address Issues of Sexuality

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 14, 2001

ELCA COUNCIL AFFIRMS PLANS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF SEXUALITY
01-295-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) affirmed the way two divisions of
the church are responding to calls from the 2001 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly for a social statement on human sexuality and a churchwide
study on homosexuality.  The churchwide assembly said the study will
consider issues such as the possibility of the church's accepting
pastors who are in committed homosexual relationships and the
blessing of same-gender relationships.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves
as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide
assemblies.  The council met here Nov. 9-11.  Assemblies are held
every other year; the next is Aug. 11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee.
     In August the 2001 Churchwide Assembly asked the Division for
Ministry and Division for Church in Society to lead a comprehensive
four-year study of homosexuality and report back to the 2003 and 2005
Churchwide Assemblies.  The assembly also asked the Division for
Church in Society to prepare a social statement on human sexuality.
     The two divisions developed a six-point "protocol" to
coordinate the assembly mandates.  The protocol outlines how
leadership in the projects will be shared, the selection of a study
director, how the director is to be supervised, the selection of a
task force, how and when study reports will be issued and how study
documents will be authorized for distribution.
     The council received the divisions' proposal for the
coordinated process, the protocol and a position description for the
study director.  The proposal included four options regarding the
timing and scope of the study -- the size of a task force, as well as
the number of hearings, focus groups and other consultations.
     The council affirmed "the plan to hire a staff director for
this project" and asked that its executive committee be included in
the development of "a refined proposal" that would be brought to its
next meeting in April 2002.  The refined proposal will include a
communication plan, a process for feedback and a recommendation for
funding the process.
     In a "committee of the whole" discussion of the proposed
process, council members spoke with the Rev. Charles S. Miller,
executive director of the ELCA Division for Church in Society, and
the Rev. Joseph M. Wagner, executive director of the ELCA Division
for Ministry.
     They answered questions about the church's existing study
materials on issues surrounding human sexuality.
     "We have content and process materials   the message on human
sexuality, 'Talking Together As Christians About Difficult Issues'
and the scholarly work of theologians," said Miller.  "What's missing
is 'accessible' material around the topic of how Lutherans understand
the Word of God.  It exists, but it needs work for our members to use
it."
     "We have no material on gay unions, and no material on
ordination questions," said Wagner.  "More work needs to be done to
gather materials from seminaries."
     The council encouraged the divisions to begin the process with
"an exploration of the Lutheran understanding of the Word of God to
serve as a foundation for the entire process" and to develop a study
guide for the message "Sexuality: Some Common Convictions," which the
council adopted in November 1996.
     In acknowledging the proposed process, the council voted "to
affirm that there are no preconceived conclusions on the content of
the recommendations that will be submitted to the 2005 and subsequent
Churchwide Assemblies."
     "It is not clear to me what the issue is," said Earl L.
Mummert, council member from Harrisburg, Pa.  "Are we trying to
decide if [homosexuality] is right or wrong?  Are we trying to
promote tolerance?  The answers will help us decide on the process to
use.  It is really dangerous, if we don't have clarity."
     Wagner said the process does not provide such particular
answers.  "I would not want anyone to jump to any conclusion that
this is a rigid process," he said.
     Assembly decisions about issues concerning human sexuality
should not become grounds for leaving the ELCA, said the Rev. Kim R.
Taylor, council member from Tucson, Ariz.  "We need to develop a
strategy to deal with those who see this [process] as an option for
separation."
     "This church is in a time of discernment regarding matters of
human sexuality," the council said.  "We pray for God's guidance
during this time."
     "One of my goals for this [process] is widespread
conversation," said the Rev. Dianne H. "Dee" Pederson, council member
from St. Cloud, Minn.  "There has not been enough so far.  We need
more conversation."
     The study is "not the whole work of the church, and is not the
obsession of the church," said Wagner.  "This is a time for us to
stop, listen to the churchwide assembly and engage the issues as
responsibly as we can."
     In a related action, the council set aside $500,000 in 2002 to
finance projects the 2001 Churchwide Assembly mandated -- $250,000 in
start-up funds for a churchwide evangelism strategy and $250,000 in
start-up funds for the development of a social statement on human
sexuality and churchwide study on homosexuality.

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