CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Church in Society (DCS) received a report from the church's "work group on homosexuality" and asked for materials to help it continue its discussion of "justice issues for gay and lesbian persons in church and society." The DCS board met here Feb. 22-24.
Last year, the ELCA Church Council asked various divisions and other units of the church to report annually on conversations about "human sexuality, including homosexuality, and the inclusion of gay and lesbian persons in our common life and mission." The DCS board received this year's report and transmitted it to the council.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide assemblies. The council will meet here April 6-8. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is in August in Indianapolis.
The Rev. James M. Childs Jr., DCS board chair, said the board took the council's direction and committed itself to discuss issues related to human sexuality from the perspective of the division's work. Childs is director of academic development and professor of theology and ethics, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio.
The board asked "the executive director to implement a project, contingent on funding, whereby study material on justice issues for gay and lesbian persons in church and society will be developed for discussion by the DCS board at a future meeting."
"This item engaged the board in a very helpful and broad ranging discussion," said Childs.
"The board clearly saw the need for taking some initiative, at the suggestion of our director, in developing some materials which would first of all engage us in moral deliberation regarding the issues of gay and lesbian people both in the church and in society," Childs said.
"This action reflects the commitment of DCS board members to engage in their own moral deliberation on the topic of homosexuality, just as others in this church are being invited to do," said the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive director of the ELCA Division for Church in Society.
"We'll draw on many of the resources currently in use in the ELCA plus ask a few persons to develop some original material for our study," said Miller. -- -- --
In 1999, DCS produced "Talking Together as Christians about Homosexuality: A Guide for Congregations," a resource consisting of books and videotape for organized discussions about homosexuality. The resource is described at http://www.elca.org/DCS/talking.html on the Web.
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
