ELCA Sexuality Studies Task Force to Meet with Consultants

CHICAGO (ELCA) The task force for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Studies on Sexuality met here Sept. 13-15 and scheduled consultations with representatives of the gay and lesbian community within the ELCA and with pastors and others who want to maintain current ELCA ordination policies. The consultations are planned for the task force's next meeting here Feb. 7-9.
"We're going to ask a number of questions for them to address in writing prior to the meeting with us, so that we can make the most of our time interacting with one another, hearing what they have to say to us and profiting from that exchange," said the Rev. James M. Childs Jr., director for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, in an interview.
Childs and the task force were appointed this year to fulfill mandates of the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which met in Indianapolis. The assembly asked the ELCA Division for Ministry and ELCA Division for Church in Society to lead a comprehensive four-year study of homosexuality. They asked that the study address topics that include the possible ordination of people who are gay and lesbian and living in committed relationships, and asked for study of blessings of same-sex relationships. Presently, ELCA policy requires ordained ministers to refrain from homosexual sexual relationships. There is no official policy on blessings of same-sex relationships, though the ELCA Conference of Bishops has advised the church that it does not approve of such ceremonies.
The 2001 assembly called for a progress report to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly and for a final report with recommendations at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. The assembly also asked the Division for Church in Society to prepare a social statement on human sexuality.
Task force members, meeting for the second time since being appointed, laid out a series of plans for the next several months, articulating ideas for a process and suggesting goals for their work. The meeting was also a time for members to become better acquainted.
In addition to the February consultations, the task force scheduled meetings with diverse groups of theologians and a panel of social and behavioral scientists at their meeting planned for April.
Much of the September meeting was spent in discussions of previously published materials and papers produced by task force members. They discussed Lutheran approaches to interpreting scripture; private papers written by task force members in which they attempted to articulate various arguments related to blessings of same-sex relationships and ordination of people who are gay and lesbian in committed relationships; two books, "The Church and Homosexuality: Searching for a Middle Ground" by Merton Strommen and "Married in the Sight of God" by Christian Scharen; study methods; points of view to be presented in the consultations; goals for the studies; and correspondence and resolutions from ELCA synod assemblies.
In addition to the consultations, the task force was informed of progress of a book commissioned by the eight ELCA seminary presidents through the ELCA Division for Ministry. The book, tentatively titled "Faithful Conversation: Christian Perspectives on Homosexuality," is scheduled for publication in 2003, Childs said.
An initial draft of study materials developed by the director and the task force is to be presented to the church for review and comment in the fall of 2003, Childs said. The materials will not include recommendations that will be presented to the 2005 assembly, he said.
Two new members were welcomed to the 14-member task force: Connie Thomas, South Holland, Ill., and Susan S. Salomone, Syracuse, N.Y. One task force member appointed previously, Dr. Nancy W. Walker, Charlotte, N.C., resigned after the first meeting.
"I'm very impressed with the courage and dedication the people on the task force have brought to this," said the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England Synod and task force chair, in an interview. "All the opinions that you find across the church are represented on this task force." Payne said the task force members are committed to be in conversation with one another and "to find a way that God wants us to move through this time together around this issue."
During the meeting, Childs addressed a common concern that he said he hears in many conversations with people: that the composition of the task force is "stacked" in the direction of changes in policy.
"I have said in no uncertain terms that this task force is diverse," Childs told the group. "I have confidence in the task force. I have refused to characterize the members of the task force in any way. I have lifted up your integrity individually and corporately." Childs and Payne also emphasized during the meeting that the outcome of the task force's work is unknown.
Task force members agreed to proceed in their work by consensus. Some members said in the end, the studies and recommendations may point in a different direction than anyone has suggested to date.
"There may be a way to come up with something that's a surprise to us all," said the Rev. Timothy Wengert, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, a member of the task force.
"God is going to work through the Holy Spirit for us," said Dr. John Prabhakar, task force member from Rochelle, Ill. "In the end, we may have something surprising, and people are going to say, 'Only God could have done this.' That's what I'm praying for."
"If there's any way we can project hopefuleness and speak about the Holy Spirit, that's something we ought to be speaking about," added the Rev. Lucy Kolin, task force member from Oakland, Calif.
Task force members listed basic areas of concern they will consider in drafting the studies and recommendations. They are: a biblical witness and how Lutherans read the Bible; Lutheran traditions, including the history of Lutheran decisions related to homosexuality; the witness of the whole Christian tradition; the witness of experience and the work of the Spirit; moral deliberation in dialogue with the ecumenical context and global Lutheranism; and the context for social and behavioral sciences.
A series of goals for the studies were listed by task force members. They are: successfully discussing a difficult issue without further dividing groups of people; acquainting the church with gay and lesbian communities; having a process that leads to an honest and faithful outcome; that the church would be more aware of the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit; reaching out to all generations of people within the church; growing in understanding and appreciation of each other; being a voice to the world on issues involving gay and lesbian people in the church; finding common ground where possible; and building trust and confidence in the ELCA churchwide organization.
Dr. Diane M. Yeager, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and task force member, suggested one goal might be for the task force to get through its work without making things worse.
"If we drove more gay and lesbian people out of the church, that would be a bad outcome," she said. "If congregations left, that would be a bad outcome. If Lutherans felt alienated from the Lutheran Church as a result of this study, I think that would be tragic."
Childs is meeting with a number of groups throughout the church about the studies, and he will be a presenter at many significant meetings within the ELCA in future months.
Communication of the progress of the studies is essential, he said. For example, Childs recently wrote a summary of the task force's work to date and sent it to ELCA communicators throughout the church.
"All of us involved in this process are committed to maximum communication of what's going on, and to encouraging maximum participation on the part of person