CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Participants of the 2007 Churchwide
Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
opened the fifth plenary session with a Bible study focusing on
the topic of human sexuality through the study of the verses 1 to
10 of the first chapter of Galatians. The Bible study was led by
the Rev. David L. Tiede, former president of Luther Seminary, St.
Paul, and professor, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, on Aug. 8.
Augsburg is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities and Luther
is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
The assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA,
is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About
2,000 people are participating, including 1,071 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
Introducing Tiede, Connie D. Thomas of Chicago, a member of
the ELCA Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, told the
assembly that they were blessed to have Tiede as a leader as they
prepare to discuss sexuality.
Tiede asked the assembly to consider, "how in heaven's name
are we as a church going to develop and adopt a 'social
statement' on sexuality in the midst of disputes about what is
moral or just? If it's all just sexual politics, as the media
suspect, our congregations and our families are split."
"Sex is harder to discuss than money. So what if your
politics are liberal or conservative?" asked Tiede.
Tiede told the Curchwide Assembly that the Apostle Paul's
letter to Galatia is a risky, yet powerful testimony to
Christians. "Paul writes, 'for you were called to freedom,
brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an
opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves
to one another,'" Tiede said.
"Christian freedom is not just freedom from, but freedom for
... freedom to be a blessing to your neighbors," he said. "Even
our sexuality is a way to make the world a more trustworthy
place."
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
* Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech
communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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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
