ELCA Assembly Discusses Gay and Lesbian Issue

DENVER (ELCA) The 1999 churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) conducted two hearings on Aug. 17 focusing on an "Interunit Response to Synodical Memorials on the Ordination, Consecration and Commissioning of Non-celibate Gay and Lesbian Persons."
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 16-22 at the Colorado Convention Center. There are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Hope for a New Century."
In April 1998, the executive committee of the ELCA Church Council concurred with a recommendation -- brought by the ELCA Divisions for Church in Society, Ministry, Outreach, and Congregational Ministries, and the ELCA Commission for Women-- that a "bundled" report of activities regarding homosexuality be brought to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly.
The interunit response contains five points: 1) This church's engagement in the matter of homosexuality is not about "insiders" and "outsiders." 2) The task of engagement touches core matters of personal identity. 3) The task is multifaceted. Changing and differing understandings of homosexuality touch the church's mission and ministry in a variety of ways. 4) There is no arbitrary timetable for concluding the discussion. 5) This church needs to continue to engage the matter of homosexuality in deliberate, thoughtful and prayerful ways.
Representatives from each of the units gave an overview of their work involved in establishing the interunit response.
The work of the Division for Church in Society, represented by the Rev. Leslie F. Weber Jr., associate executive director, centered on a study process which developed eight discussions at colleges, seminaries, and with selected individuals. The interunit report notes that all conversations were characterized by civil, safe, well-informed, and inclusive discussions and were well received by the persons in attendance. "Talking Together as Christians About Homosexuality," is a resource developed to assist congregational discussions about homosexuality.
"We are aware that these are small steps, necessary steps, and functional for the future," said Weber. "We believe this is an issue that the church must engage in and will engage in."
The Division for Outreach, represented by Susan A. Thompson, executive for newly organized congregations, concentrated on "hospitality." Thompson said that information was gathered by visiting selected congregations throughout the nation. Discussions included pastors, staff, congregational leaders, and gay and lesbian persons. In fulfillment of their work, a resource has been developed that will help congregations become intentionally welcoming to gay and lesbian people.
The Commission for Women, represented by the Rev. Ann M. Tiemeyer, chair of the steering committee, reported on dialogues with women, both heterosexual and homosexual. The interunit report notes that the Commission offers its support of groups engaged in similar dialogues.
The Division for Congregational Ministries, represented by the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock and the Rev. Mark R. Moller-Gunderson, executive directors, received and affirmed a resolution from the board of the Lutheran Youth Organization which sought to "pursue a dynamic, interactive and open and welcoming ministry with gay, lesbian and bisexual young people, and exclude the possibility of a pre-gathering for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth to precede the triennial ELCA Youth Gathering."
The Division for Ministry, represented by the Rev. Joseph M. Wagner, executive director, is responsible for standards for rostered ministry. The document "Vision and Expectations: Ordained Ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," adopted in 1990, states, "Single ordained ministers are expected to live a chaste life. Married ordained ministers are expected to live in fidelity to their spouses, giving expression to sexual intimacy within a marriage relationship that is mutual, chaste and faithful. Ordained ministers who are homosexual in their self-understanding are expected to abstain from homosexual sexual relationships."
Following extensive study and discussion, the Division for Ministry found, and reported in the interunit report, that within this church there are many who are reluctant to speak on the topic. It says that some who may support the position of this church believe they may be perceived as being uncaring toward gay and lesbian persons. Others may want to advocate change, but are hesitant to speak because of their positions of responsibility and leadership within this church.
"We will continue discerning discussion on this sensitive issue, confront it directly, and without fear," said Wagner.
In a standing-room only hearing, a question and answer period brought a multitude of emotions. Urgent pleas were made for decisions, models of biblical authority, a need to listen to one another, guidance to help congregations begin talking about the subject, wisdom in being deliberate, and resources to train pastors in the area of hospitality toward gay and lesbian people.
Some spoke to the issue of major social change, and how the church is walking through painful moments of time. Questions were raised about the church's stand on discrimination relating to hiring practices, especially as being put forth in a social statement on economic life the assembly is considering. Some felt that our current stands are in conflict with one another, calling the church hypocritical. Another concern included blessing of same-sex relationships.
Some participants recognized that we are in a time of transition, that there is a need for prayerful deliberation, that listening to one another is of utmost importance, that study and training for pastors and lay leaders is requested, that inclusive leadership development needs to be strategized, that regional differences, cultural differences, lay and clergy differences need to be considered, that the church must be an instrument of work within the community, and that we need to seek guidance and counsel of our ecumenical partners who face similar issues.
A 1998 resolution from the Sierra Pacific Synod asking that the ELCA rescind its policies for ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian persons noted in the Vision and Expectations guidelines was submitted to the ELCA Church Council. At its April 1999 meeting, the council voted to refer the memorial to the Division for Ministry and asked the division to respond directly to the synod.

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