Study of Human Sexuality
ELCA Churchwide Assembly Action CA95.07.72
Passed by the 1995 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
WhereasWhereas, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been struggling with the issue of human sexuality for eight years; and
Whereas, the Church Council, Conference of Bishops, Division for Church in Society, the task force, the consulting team, the writing team, and others have devoted countless hours and endless energy to the Spirit-led deliberating that produced the working draft (October 1994); and
Whereas, this draft was shared throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and produced many areas of agreement; and
Whereas, some few sections produced unprecedented dissension and divisiveness throughout this church; and
Whereas, there are many in our church, many who have left the church, and many standing outside the church, all of who are in desperate need of a word of affirmation, of hope, of support, and of guidance from the church in all areas of human sexuality; therefore, be it
Resolved
RESOLVED, that this assembly urge the Church Council to place on the agenda of the 1997 Churchwide Assembly, for consideration, a Statement on Human Sexuality reflecting the areas in which there is substantial agreement within this church; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this assembly also urge that work continue unabated on resolving the church’s position on homosexuality, now covered in paragraph 48-63 of the working draft (October 1994).