wfn.org | ELCA Bishop Censures, Admonishes Minneapolis Congregation

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 24, 2004

ELCA Bishop Censures, Admonishes Minneapolis Congregation
04-179-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Craig E. Johnson, bishop of the
Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), sent a letter "of censure and admonition" to
Bethany Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, for its decision to call
and ordain a person who was not eligible to serve as a pastor in
the ELCA.
     Jay A. Wiesner was ordained July 25 and installed as
Bethany's associate pastor Aug. 1, according to the
congregation's Web site.  He had been serving for about two years
at Bethany as pastoral minister for outreach. Wiesner is gay and
was ordained "in direct conflict with official ELCA policies,"
according to the Web site.
     In his letter to the congregation, Johnson said he would
postpone any disciplinary action against the congregation until
the ELCA completes its decision-making process on two key issues:
the possible ordination of people who are gay or lesbian and in
committed relationships, and whether there should be a rite for
the blessing of same-gender relationships.  Decisions on these
matters are expected to be made by voting members at the 2005
ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Orlando, Fla.
     Johnson said he was censuring and admonishing the
congregation with "sadness" and after much prayer and listening.
He reminded the congregation of a "covenant" between the ELCA and
its congregations.  In particular, Johnson cited the ELCA
Constitution and Bylaws, in which congregations "agree to call
pastoral leadership from the clergy roster of this church in
accordance with the call procedures of this church except in
special circumstances and with the approval of the synodical
bishop."
     "Bethany Lutheran Church after debate, discussion and vote
willfully disregarded this critical accord of congregational life
in the ELCA," Johnson wrote.  He noted that he had asked the
congregation to postpone calling and ordaining Wiesner at least
until after the 2005 assembly had acted.
     "You pre-empted the ELCA's process by your decision," he
said.  "This has put ordained leaders in our synod and the larger
church in a difficult position with their congregations. You have
broken an important and vital covenant with your fellow
congregations."
     Congregations do not have "sole authority and responsibility
to ordain a leader," Johnson said.  Ordination is a "shared
responsibility" between congregations and the wider church, he
said, adding that "this understanding of call and ordination is,
for us, a significant and central unity of theology and mission
within our church."
     Johnson said he and his staff would have helped the
congregation locate ordained candidates "regardless of sexual
orientation," provided those candidates were living within the
ELCA's clergy standards.
     Despite the congregation's action to call and ordain
Wiesner, Johnson said he and his staff wanted to "be respectful
and gracious" in responding, and said he was aware of his
responsibility to uphold the policies and constitution of the
ELCA.  Johnson said he would postpone any further disciplinary
action until after the "discernment" process of the church is
completed.
     "I believe this is the most prudent and appropriate action
available to me during our church's discernment process," Johnson
said.
     "Much of my sadness is because Bethany is a congregation
serious about its mission, in partnership with others and
generous with its building -- especially to the Oromo Evangelical
Lutheran Church," he said.  "Your action has particularly been a
strain on the Oromo Lutheran Church."
     Oromo Lutheran Church's members are recent immigrants from
the horn of Africa, most notably Ethiopia, according to the
congregation's Web site.
     Johnson said he desired that the church remain true to the
gospel by remembering the poor and spreading the "Good News" of
Jesus Christ.
     Johnson concluded by citing a verse in Ephesians chapter 4
of the New Testament.  "I pray that we will heed Paul's words: '.
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace.'"

Congregation Expected Censure, Says Pastor
     The Rev. Steven R. Benson, pastor of the 102 year-old
Bethany Lutheran Church, said the congregation expected a
response and reprimand from Johnson.  The congregation and
Johnson had been in regular communication with each other for
some time, Benson said.
     Congregational leaders don't agree with everything Johnson
described in his letter, Benson said, but for now the
congregation is ready to "let it be."
     "We think maybe it is counterproductive to issue a formal
response and get into a debate," Benson said.
     Benson suggested that the congregation's decision to call
and ordain Wiesner was "an expression of faith."  People in the
gay community are often subjected to bigotry and many attempt
suicide, he said.
     "We felt we could be complicit in the 'crime' by our
silence," Benson said.	"We felt there are lives at stake.  This
needs to be a public proclamation of wholeness and healing."
     Many in the congregation knew Johnson could have taken
harsher disciplinary action against Bethany, Benson said.  He
said Johnson's explanation, outlined in the letter, appears to
represent a "healthy compromise."
     "There is some sadness that our church is in a state of
engagement in this kind of struggle," Benson said.
     Benson also said the congregation's relationship with Oromo
Lutheran Church has many complexities, though he added that
Bethany's relationships with longstanding Oromo members are good.
     For now, the congregation is most concerned about its
neighborhood ministry, Benson said.  "The next step for us is
engaging in our mission and ministry in the city, and to maintain
dialogue with the church-at-large on these issues," and to
minimize "polarization," Benson added.
---
     Information about Bethany Lutheran Church, including Jay
Wiesner, is at http://bethanyinseward.home.att.net/ on the Web.

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