wfn.org | ELCA Council Approves Time Line, Funds for Sexuality Studies

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 12, 2002

ELCA COUNCIL APPROVES TIME LINE, FUNDS FOR SEXUALITY STUDIES
02-084-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a series of related actions, the Church
Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a
six-year time line for studies on sexuality and approved $1.15 million
to fund the six-year project.  The studies, which will examine several
topics related to homosexuality and human sexuality, were mandated by
the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly and are to be completed in 2007.
     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 April 5-7. Assemblies are held every
other year; the next is Aug. 11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee.
     The council's action calls for a focus on the study of
homosexuality from 2002 to 2005. The Rev. James A. Childs, ELCA
sexuality studies director, and a 13-member task force will guide the
study.  They will examine topics such as the possibility of ordaining
gay and lesbian people who are in committed relationships and blessings
of same-gender relationships. The 2001 assembly asked that a final
report and any recommendations resulting from the study be presented to
the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
     The 2001 assembly also called for a draft of a social statement on
human sexuality.  The council said discussion of human sexuality is to
proceed "in tandem" with the homosexuality study, with 2006 to 2007 to
be the time period in which the church will focus on developing the
draft of the social statement.  Childs and the task force are to guide
that effort.
     In a separate action, the council agreed to allocate an additional
$900,000 for the entire project in addition to $250,000 in start-up
funds it allocated in November 2001.  The funds will be used for task
force meetings, writers, hearings, focus groups, printing and
distribution of resources, and staff.
     The $1.15 million budget is "not tentative but is seen as a
realistic budget" for the complete project, said the Rev. Joseph M.
Wagner, in response to questions from council members.  Wagner is
executive director of the ELCA Division for Ministry, which shares
overall leadership for the sexuality studies with the ELCA Division for
Church in Society.
     Council members agreed that communication related to the project
is essential.  They accepted a proposal for a wide-ranging communication
plan "dedicated to providing a free flow of information and
communication throughout the ELCA," according to the action.
     The council encouraged "all members to participate in this process
in a spirit of mutual respect and a commitment to concord throughout the
life of this church," it said.
     The task force will hold its first meeting May 3-5 in Chicago,
Childs said in a report to the council.  "I look forward to the
collegiality of that group," he said.  "It is a diverse group, which is
united in a common readiness to serve the church."
     A Web site -- http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney -- is among many
communication methods that will be used to interact with the church,
Childs said.  Members are invited to report on local activities related
to the studies, he said.
     "We will bring into the discussions all of the expertise of the
church that we can, and we will be as open as we can," he said.  "There
will be no closed meetings, and there will be open communication."
     In his report to the council, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA
presiding bishop, identified discussing sexuality as one of four current
challenges before the church.  However, he said sexuality issues must
not be dominant and should be kept in context with the other significant
challenges he identified: defining mission, developing leaders, and
expanding ecumenical and global partnerships.

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