ELCA Vice President Addresses Dissatisfaction with Assembly Decisions

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Carlos Peña, vice president of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), wrote an Oct. 23 letter to the
church's 4.6 million members, asking them to consider actions of the
ELCA's 2009 Churchwide Assembly "as a catalyst to further strengthen our
church and our relationships with each other."
Peña related his experiences of devastation after Hurricane Ike
struck his hometown of Galveston, Texas, in September 2008. "One year
later, I can see the benefits of this experience," he wrote. "Galveston
is coming back stronger than before and welcoming citizens and
businesses, both old and new."
"I feel as though I have experienced a resurrection. Good things are
coming to light out of the chaos and darkness of what seemed like a
hopeless situation," Peña wrote.
The assembly adopted a social statement on human sexuality, and it
adopted proposals to change ELCA ministry policies, including a change to
make it possible for Lutherans in publicly accountable, lifelong,
monogamous same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in
ministry, clergy, deaconesses and diaconal ministers.
Peña's letter responded to reports of dissatisfaction with the
assembly actions from some in the ELCA. Some members have talked about
leaving the church, and some say they are thinking of stopping their
donations to the church.
"I have lived through vast changes and come out better and stronger
for it," Peña wrote. "I know with all my heart that, with diligence and
hard work, we can come through this together as a renewed church, boldly
proclaiming God's mission for the sake of the world," he said.
Peña reminded ELCA members of the work their dollars do through the
church. "Working together, we help alleviate hunger close to home and
abroad. Without our help, people around the world would have a harder
time recuperating from disasters. They need us and we need each other,"
he wrote.
"I pray for the continuing efforts of the ELCA, my understanding of
people different from me, and the future, though sometimes it is hard to
predict. And I pray for my fellow Lutherans that they may have the
strength to commit and weather the storm," Peña concluded.
The 2009 Churchwide Assembly elected Peña to a second six-year term
as ELCA vice president, the highest office a layperson holds in the
church, and he chairs the ELCA Church Council. He is president of two
companies in the Galveston and Houston areas.
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The full text of Carlos Peña's letter is at http://bit.ly/nNgvG on
the ELCA Web site.

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
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