Evangelism, CCM, Human Sexuality Top Topics at 45 Synod Assemblies

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Forty-five of the 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) completed their annual assemblies between June 1 and June 24. The most common subjects addressed by voting members in those assemblies were evangelism, implementation of a full-communion agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, and concerns related to human sexuality. Nineteen synods elected or re-elected bishops.
Twenty synod assemblies had been completed by May 31.
Many of the issues from synod assemblies were forwarded for action to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which meets in Indianapolis Aug. 8-14. The churchwide assembly, which consists of 1,040 voting members from throughout the church, is the ELCA's chief legislative authority. It meets every two years.
According to reports received by the ELCA Department for Synodical Relations, at least 16 synods adopted resolutions or memorials related to evangelism between June 1 and June 24. A memorial is a synod resolution which calls for specific action by the churchwide assembly.
Most evangelism memorials had similar wording. The memorials called on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to focus the ELCA's commitment to mission and asked the presiding bishop to establish a "blue ribbon" task force to develop a "comprehensive evangelism strategy." Such a strategy could be submitted to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly for action, the memorials said. In synod assemblies completed by May 31, at least four adopted similar memorials.
The 2001 Churchwide Assembly will hear a report on the church's evangelism efforts in the 1990s and consider adoption of a new strategy.

VARIETY OF FULL COMMUNION ISSUES RAISED
At least six synods adopted a memorial known as "Called to Freedom," or adopted similar proposals. The proposals calls for the churchwide assembly to adopt a series of constitutional amendments to accommodate church leaders who cannot accept some requirements of a full-communion agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, which went into effect this year.
The agreement -- "Called to Common Mission" (CCM) -- calls on the two churches to share ministries, and under certain circumstances, allows for exchange of clergy. For some Lutherans, CCM is unacceptable. CCM opponents say it threatens Lutheran identity and gives more power to bishops. For example, CCM requires a bishop to preside at all ordinations of Lutheran pastors. Before CCM, Lutheran bishops presided at ordinations but could delegate that authority to another pastor.
The churchwide assembly will vote on a bylaw proposal to allow an ELCA synod bishop, under certain circumstances, to delegate to another pastor the authority to preside at an ordination. At least seven synod assemblies urged the churchwide assembly to adopt the bylaw proposal. The ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod assembly opposed the bylaw; the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod assembly said a bishop should preside at all ordinations.
The ELCA Western North Dakota Synod assembly also considered a proposal to support the proposed bylaw. The assembly vote was a tie. The Rev. Duane C. Danielson, bishop, declined to break the tie, and the proposal was defeated.
The ELCA Central-Southern Illinois Synod defeated a proposal that the churchwide assembly provide for a "guaranteed option" for ordinations outside the historic episcopate and that qualified candidates not be denied ordinations free of the historic episcopate. The historic episcopate is a succession of bishops back to the earliest days of the Christian church. It was brought to the relationship by theEpiscopal Church and adopted by the ELCA when it adopted CCM.
The same synod and the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod defeated similar memorials that would allow flexibility for bishops to be installed and pastors to be ordained outside the historic episcopate.
The South Dakota Synod assembly called for a new vote on CCM; a similar proposal was ruled out of order when supporters attempted to bring it to the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod assembly.
The Southwestern Minnesota Synod assembly defeated a memorial that its synod council poll members about the requirements of CCM and that constitutional amendments be ratified by two-thirds of its members. The defeated proposal called on the churchwide organization to adopt the same ratification process.
The ELCA East-Central Synod of Wisconsin assembly adopted a resolution calling on congregations to restore financial giving which they withheld to the wider church because they do not agree with CCM.

HUMAN SEXUALITY CONCERNS VARY WIDELY
The ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod assembly adopted a resolution of support for pastors and congregations who seek to bless same-gender relationships, and it affirmed those who welcome gay and lesbian people to their congregations but prefer not to bless such relationships.
"We charitably respect one another as we examine our understandings and practices, speaking the truth in love, practicing the mutual conversation and consolation of the saints," the resolution said.
The action follows that synod assembly's controversial action in 2000, in which it voted not to discipline pastors or congregations which chose to bless same-gender relationships. The ELCA has no formal policy on the issue, but in 1993 members of its Conference of Bishops -- an advisory body of the ELCA -- said they do not approve of such ceremonies.
The ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod assembly asked the churchwide assembly to develop a rite of blessing same-gender relationships, to affirm ELCA pastors who bless such relationships and to produce educational resources on the subject. The same assembly also called on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to continue to sanction blessings of marriage between a man and a woman.
The ELCA South Dakota Synod assembly asked the ELCA Division for Church in Society to develop and submit a statement on human sexuality for consideration by the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. It suggested the statement affirm that sex is a gift from God and reserved exclusively in marriage between a woman and a man; that married people remain faithful; and that an unmarried person is called to sexual abstinence.
The South Dakota Synod assembly also narrowly defeated a proposal that it consider studying and becoming a "Reconciling in Christ" synod, which encourages its congregations to welcome gay and lesbian people to full participation in congregations. The ELCA Upstate New York Synod assembly adopted a proposal to become a Reconciling in Christ synod.
A proposal that affirmed that gay and lesbian people are welcome within the "life and ministry" of the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod received a majority vote, but fell short of a synod requirement that it be adopted with a two-thirds vote. The defeated proposal said gay and lesbian people are "expected and encouraged to share fully" in the sacramental and general life of the synod.
Two synods adopted resolutions regarding sexual boundaries or ethics. The ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod called for its pastors to complete continuing education in "sexual boundary" issues. The Central States Synod asked the ELCA presiding bishop to review present disciplinary policies on clergy sexual misconduct and "to make necessary changes to protect potential victims."

CHURCH ISSUES, SOCIAL CONCERNS RAISED BY SYNODS
Synod assemblies also spoke on a variety of church issues and social concerns:
+ Support for ELCA World Hunger Appeal: At least three synods the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod, the ELCA Upstate New York Synod and the ELCA Allegheny Synod adopted resolutions supporting financial giving to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. The appeal is the fund-raising arm of the church's world hunger programs. The Upstate New York Synod suggested members consider donating