ELCA Council Hears Progress Report on Studies on Sexuality

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Studies on sexuality have begun in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ELCA Church Council received a progress report from the studies' director, the Rev. James M. Childs Jr., and its advisor to the studies' task force, Judy G. Biffle, Houston.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov. 15-17. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee.
The 2001 Churchwide Assembly asked the ELCA Division for Ministry and Division for Church in Society to lead a comprehensive four-year study of homosexuality, with emphases on a policy on blessing same-sex relationships and on having people in such relationships as lay or ordained ministers. Presently, ELCA policy expects 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.
The two divisions first assembled the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality in May 2002. It met again in September. It is to assist the divisions in developing study materials, recommendations and proposals regarding the assembly mandates.
Biffle, a member of the council, praised Childs and the task force chairperson, the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England Synod, Worcester, Mass., for the "incredibly excellent job" the two have done to reach consensus with people of various viewpoints.
It was "a curious and awesome experience to be part of the task force," said Biffle. She described the members as deeply committed people who know full well their work is being closely scrutinized. Some in the ELCA falsely accuse the task force "of putting words to a preconceived outcome," she said.
Biffle asked the council to pray for the task force and read everything it produces with an open mind. "Listen, listen and listen some more," she told the council, because it will be important to know what people across the church are saying about the task force's work. She also encouraged council members to tell other ELCA members what they know about the task force and its commitment.
"The Holy Spirit is moving through this process," said Biffle. She said God's involvement in the studies will work to relieve any tension the church feels in discussing issues of sexuality.
"A Message on Sexuality: Some Common Convictions," which the council adopted in 1996, is the focus of "Journey Together Faithfully, ELCA Studies on Sexuality: Part One," said Childs. The materials have provided a starting point for conversations in the church, he said.
Childs told the council of many opportunities Lutherans have to participate in the studies on sexuality. He described his extensive travel schedule and said it illustrated that ELCA members are taking the studies seriously and that they want to talk. He is also conducting conference calls with groups of pastors.
While calling some of his conversations "energizing" in the past year, Childs said he feels "the burdens of the people concerned." There are "good Christian folks" expressing viewpoints on all sides of the issues, he said.
Childs thanked the board of Women of the ELCA for encouraging its more than 8,000 congregational units to participate in the study process locally. He said he considered such support and participation invaluable.
Faculty members from most of the eight ELCA seminaries have been involved in developing a book of essays on homosexuality and the church, said Childs. He said he was asked to edit that book prior to his involvement with the studies.
Childs told the council that Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA, will issue the book in February, and it should prove to be a helpful resource to the church's deliberations. However, he said, it is not a product of the task force and should not be confused with its work. -- -- --
The ELCA maintains information about its studies on sexuality at http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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