Highlights of the Sexuality Study Process

This article appeared in July / August 2005 • Volume 21 • Number 4

News stories, statements, and other relevant texts related to the ELCA Studies on Sexuality from a variety of sources.

8/13/01
ELCA Assembly Orders Study on Homosexuality
The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted 889-115 to begin a process of study.

5/10/02
Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality Holds First Meeting
At this meeting, task force members began to review some resources, including A Message on Sexuality: Some Common Convictions which was adopted by the ELCA Church Council on November 9, 1996. This text was included in the first study guide for personal and congregational use, entitled Journey Together Faithfully, Part One: ELCA Studies on Sexuality.

10/31/02
Lutherans Express Concerns about Sexuality Issues
A “Conference on Christian Sexuality,” sponsored by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau [publishers of Lutheran Forum and Forum Letter] was held on Oct. 24-26, 2002 in Kansas City, Missouri. Its participants issued a statement called “A Pastoral Statement of Conviction and Concern.”

9/11/03
ELCA Issues Study Guide on “The Church and Homosexuality”
Journey Together Faithfully, Part Two: The Church and Homosexuality for congregational and personal use and response is released.

1/13/05
ELCA Task Force Issues Recommendations on Homosexuality
The Task Force presented three recommendations.

1/18/05
A Response to the Report and Recommendations from the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality (from Solid Rock Lutherans)
The executive director of Solid Rock Lutherans looks at the recommendations.
Web site of Solid Rock Lutherans www.sldrck.org. Read www.sldrck.org/documents/Critique_of_Task_Force_Report.pdf and www.sldrck.org/documents/task_force_recommendation_response.pdf.

1/24/05
ELCA Bishops Comment on Sexuality Studies Task Force Report
See the task force report, the 1993 Statement of the ELCA Conference of Bishops on blessing of homosexual relationships and “Vision and Expectations — Ordained Ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America."

3/3/05
17 Theologians Urge ELCA to Reject Proposal On Homosexuality
Theologians produce a statement entitled “A Statement of Pastoral and Theological Concern: A response to the report and recommendations from the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality”

3/9/05
ELCA Bishops Send Message to Church on Sexuality Recommendations
The bishops affirm the first two recommendations, but offered no definitive advice on the third one.

3/15/05
ELCA Boards ‘Mixed’ about Recommendations on Homosexuality
The boards of the Division for Ministry and Church in Society sought ways to help the ELCA Church Council deal with the recommendations.

4/7/05
ELCA Synod Councils Offer Spectrum of Advice on Homosexuality

4/8/05
Theologians Urge ELCA to Support Proposal on Homosexuality
Theologians affirm implementing the three recommendations.

4/9/05
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Responds to ELCA Sexuality Report
The president of the LC-MS responds to the ELCA Task Force’s recommendations.

4/11/05
ELCA Council Drafts, Forwards Three Resolutions on Homosexuality
A full text of the recommendations on Sexuality Studies from the ELCA Church Council to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

4/11/05
Goodsoil Finds Continued Discrimination by the ELCA on the Basis of Sexual Orientation Unacceptable
Members of Goodsoil include: The Extraordinary Candidacy Project, Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries, Lutherans Concerned/North America, The Lutheran Network for Inclusive Vision, Wingspan Ministry, Soulforce, Inc.
Goodsoil.org (Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation)

4/11/05
Churchwide Assembly to vote on ordination exceptions for homosexuals in relationships (from Word Alone)
www.wordalone.org/archives/daily_posts/2005_dailys/daily_04_11_05.htm

Other Links
Goodsoil.org www.goodsoil.org
   Links include:
   The Extraordinary Candidacy Project www.extraordinarycandidacyproject.org
   Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries www.llgm.org
   Lutherans Concerned/North America www.lcna.org
   The Lutheran Network for Inclusive Vision www.inclusivenet.com
   Wingspan Ministry www.stpaulref.org/wingspan.htm
   Soulforce, Inc. www.soulforce.org

   Solid Rock Lutherans www.sldrck.org
   American Lutheran Council www.americanlutherancouncil.org
   American Lutheran Publicity Bureau www.alpb.org
   Evangelical Lutheran Confessing Fellowship www.elcf.net
   Fellowship of Confessional Lutherans www.foclnews.org
   The Hickory Declaration www.lrc.edu/rel/center/ncdeclaration.html
   Solid Ground www.solid-ground.ca
   WordAlone Network www.wordalone.org