Ordination of Openly Gay and Lesbian Persons

ELCA Churchwide Assembly Action CA97.06.28

Passed by the 1997 Churchwide Assembly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Resolved
To acknowledge the concerns that are expressed in the memorials of the Sierra Pacific Synod and the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod on the ordination of gay and lesbian persons concerns that are part of the context of this church's ongoing dialogue related to human sexuality;

To decline to take action at this assembly to make the changes in church policy and practice requested by these memorials;

To refer these memorials instead to the Division for Ministry as the division carries out its responsibility for recommending standards for rostered ministries and as it participates in the development and use of models for conversation and continuing moral deliberation on this sensitive and important subject;

To affirm the work of the Division for Church in Society as it assists this church to explore models of conversation and continuing moral deliberation that can serve this church in its commitment to continuing dialogue on issues related to human sexuality, including homosexuality; and

To request that a status report on the learnings of these conversations be brought through the Church Council to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly.