CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) affirmed the way two divisions of the church are responding to calls from the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly for a social statement on human sexuality and a churchwide study on homosexuality. The churchwide assembly said the study will consider issues such as the possibility of the church's accepting pastors who are in committed homosexual relationships and the blessing of same-gender relationships.
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 met here Nov. 9-11. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee.
In August the 2001 Churchwide Assembly asked the Division for Ministry and Division for Church in Society to lead a comprehensive four-year study of homosexuality and report back to the 2003 and 2005 Churchwide Assemblies. The assembly also asked the Division for Church in Society to prepare a social statement on human sexuality.
The two divisions developed a six-point "protocol" to coordinate the assembly mandates. The protocol outlines how leadership in the projects will be shared, the selection of a study director, how the director is to be supervised, the selection of a task force, how and when study reports will be issued and how study documents will be authorized for distribution.
The council received the divisions' proposal for the coordinated process, the protocol and a position description for the study director. The proposal included four options regarding the timing and scope of the study -- the size of a task force, as well as the number of hearings, focus groups and other consultations.
The council affirmed "the plan to hire a staff director for this project" and asked that its executive committee be included in the development of "a refined proposal" that would be brought to its next meeting in April 2002. The refined proposal will include a communication plan, a process for feedback and a recommendation for funding the process.
In a "committee of the whole" discussion of the proposed process, council members spoke with the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive director of the ELCA Division for Church in Society, and the Rev. Joseph M. Wagner, executive director of the ELCA Division for Ministry.
They answered questions about the church's existing study materials on issues surrounding human sexuality.
"We have content and process materials the message on human sexuality, 'Talking Together As Christians About Difficult Issues' and the scholarly work of theologians," said Miller. "What's missing is 'accessible' material around the topic of how Lutherans understand the Word of God. It exists, but it needs work for our members to use it."
"We have no material on gay unions, and no material on ordination questions," said Wagner. "More work needs to be done to gather materials from seminaries."
The council encouraged the divisions to begin the process with "an exploration of the Lutheran understanding of the Word of God to serve as a foundation for the entire process" and to develop a study guide for the message "Sexuality: Some Common Convictions," which the council adopted in November 1996.
In acknowledging the proposed process, the council voted "to affirm that there are no preconceived conclusions on the content of the recommendations that will be submitted to the 2005 and subsequent Churchwide Assemblies."
"It is not clear to me what the issue is," said Earl L. Mummert, council member from Harrisburg, Pa. "Are we trying to decide if [homosexuality] is right or wrong? Are we trying to promote tolerance? The answers will help us decide on the process to use. It is really dangerous, if we don't have clarity."
Wagner said the process does not provide such particular answers. "I would not want anyone to jump to any conclusion that this is a rigid process," he said.
Assembly decisions about issues concerning human sexuality should not become grounds for leaving the ELCA, said the Rev. Kim R. Taylor, council member from Tucson, Ariz. "We need to develop a strategy to deal with those who see this [process] as an option for separation."
"This church is in a time of discernment regarding matters of human sexuality," the council said. "We pray for God's guidance during this time."
"One of my goals for this [process] is widespread conversation," said the Rev. Dianne H. "Dee" Pederson, council member from St. Cloud, Minn. "There has not been enough so far. We need more conversation."
The study is "not the whole work of the church, and is not the obsession of the church," said Wagner. "This is a time for us to stop, listen to the churchwide assembly and engage the issues as responsibly as we can."
In a related action, the council set aside $500,000 in 2002 to finance projects the 2001 Churchwide Assembly mandated -- $250,000 in start-up funds for a churchwide evangelism strategy and $250,000 in start-up funds for the development of a social statement on human sexuality and churchwide study on homosexuality.
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.
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