Sexuality and Church Unity ELCA Studies on Sexuality Recommendation I

ELCA Churchwide Assembly Action CA05.05.17

Passed by the 2005 Churchwide Assembly in Orlando, Florida.

Introduction
Passed by the 2005 Churchwide Assembly, Orlando, Florida.

Whereas
WHEREAS, the people of this church are joined and united by the love of Jesus Christ;

WHEREAS, this unity is God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ and we are called as a church to cherish, nurture, and safeguard this gift;

WHEREAS, within this unity is also a God-given diversity that we honor in the body of Christ;

WHEREAS, we give thanks to God for the precious gift of unity and the richness of diversity within the body of Christ, for each other, and for the desire and strength to live faithfully within our God-given unity and diversity;

WHEREAS, we respect the integrity of convictions of conscience and faith “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2- 3); and

WHEREAS, we see throughout this church that a commitment to the authority of Scripture is not solely the concern of those who seek to maintain the tradition and, similarly, compassion for gay and lesbian persons and a commitment that they be treated justly are not solely concerns of those advocating change; therefore, be it

Resolved
RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — its members, congregations, synods, churchwide organization, and agencies and institutions — be urged to concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements, recognizing the God-given mission and communion that we share as members of the body of Christ.