CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Disciplinary charges will not be filed against a Berkeley, Calif., congregation for its decision to call a person to serve as its pastor who is not on the official clergy roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The decision was announced in a Sept. 29 letter from the Rev. Robert W. Mattheis, bishop of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod, Oakland, Calif., to congregations and pastors of the synod.
The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, which includes 5.15- million members across the United States and Caribbean.
The issue involves University Lutheran Chapel (ULC) and Jeff R. Johnson. Mattheis formally censured the congregation earlier this year after it called Johnson to serve as pastor. Johnson is not on the ELCA clergy roster and is not eligible for call to an ELCA congregation. In addition, a board that administers Lutheran campus ministry funds had withheld funds for University Lutheran Chapel's campus ministry because the congregation called a person not on the official clergy roster.
Johnson's ordination in 1990 was not recognized by the ELCA because he did not agree to live according to the "Vision and Expectations of the Ordained Ministry," the ELCA document that defines its clergy standards.
In his September letter, Mattheis said despite his decision not to file formal charges, his letter of censure "remains in place." = Mattheis=20 also said he would no longer recommend campus ministry funding be withheld from ULC. The board met Nov. 3 and released its hold on the funds, Mattheis said.
"I will utilize the resources of ULC as we think through missional issues relating to the pastoral ministry of gay and lesbian persons who cannot subscribe to the Vision and Expectations document of the ELCA," Mattheis said.
Mattheis said he was persuaded by an action of the Sierra Pacific Synod assembly this past summer. The assembly urged Mattheis to do all he could to "avoid expulsion" of ULC. If he chose to file charges against the congregation, the possibility of expulsion from the ELCA existed, he said.
However, there are provisions in the synod's constitution for others to file such charges, he said.
"Many of you will be pleased with this decision," Mattheis said in his letter. "Others will be gravely disappointed. Long ago, as the parent of young children, I came to the conclusion that whenever I was faced with indecision regarding how I would respond to a child's behavior, I would always err on the side of grace."
"If I could not decide whether punishment or hugs were the best path, I would always choose hugs," he added. "I know that sometimes both are required. I'm referring to those times when you are trying to find your way, and you can make a compelling argument both ways. Hugs win."
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
