October 2007

e-Update for Rostered Leaders

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

This update from the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality provides highlights about recent activity and carries important information about the next steps of the social statement process. I invite you to read it carefully and share it widely.

Youth Study
By now, all ELCA congregations should have received copies of the youth sexuality study, Free in Christ to Care for the Neighbor: Lutheran Youth Talk about Human Sexuality. This adaptation of the December 2006 study, Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor, engages senior high youth through music, movie clips, stories from young people, and activities. Bible study, prayer, and ELCA social teachings provide a foundation for youth as they reflect on topics such as: When is sex okay? How do creation and sin impact my view of sex? How do I respond to the way sexuality is depicted in popular culture?

The study invites senior high youth to apply a faith perspective as they discuss the world in which they live. Each of the six sessions features a take-home handout to help families continue the discussion. Later this month youth and leaders will be able to log on to a companion website to share their ideas in an online discussion forum and to find video clips as discussion starters.

Work of the Task Force
The task force met October 5-6 to discuss biblical, ethical, and theological material that could form the foundation of a draft social statement on human sexuality. It also received a preliminary report on responses to the adult congregational study, met with the Conference of Bishops, and discussed the actions of the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly with the secretary-elect of the ELCA.

Responding to the 2007 Churchwide Assembly
The task force discussed how it might respond to the directive from the 2007 Churchwide Assembly regarding “policies that preclude practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of this church.” Because ELCA social statements are not documents of policy implementation, the response of the task force to the assembly action will be addressed in a separate recommendation.