In 2022, the Churchwide Assembly authorized two reconsiderations (see pages 4-5 and 11 of this Assembly action summary) of the Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (2009) social statement:
- Reconsideration #1: A review of specific text references that “would consider the import that marriage legally is now a covenant between individuals;” review specific wording “in light of public acceptance of marriage of same-gender and gender-non-conforming couples;” and “consider references to diversity of family configurations;” and
- Reconsideration #2: A fresh consideration of the “church’s current concept of the four positions of bound conscience” found on pages 19-21 of Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.
In Spring 2024, the ELCA Church Council Executive Committee seated a task force to lead work on both reconsiderations. The task force represents a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Click here to learn about task force members.
The first reconsideration process was completed at the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Edits to Section IV were amended and adopted by a two-thirds vote (724-46). The task force has now started the process for the second reconsideration. Resources related to the reconsideration will be made available throughout the process. As with the first reconsideration, the task force will provide a draft statement for public feedback.
Resources
You can read FAQs about the task force’s work here. The FAQs are also available in Spanish (click here) and in large-print (click here).
While the public comment period is now closed, questions can still be sent to the task force at Reconsiderations@elca.org.
Read the full social statement as adopted in 2025 here.
Questions can be sent to the task force at Reconsiderations@elca.org.
