ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Variety of Subjects in Town Hall Forum

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) hosted a "Town Hall Forum" here Dec. 6, fielding
a variety of questions on topics such as leadership, mission, evangelism,
anti-racism and racial justice matters, funding, churchwide staff
reductions and actions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson responded to 19 questions -- posed by a live
audience and members watching online -- during the hour-long forum.
Carlos Peña, ELCA vice president, Galveston, Texas, introduced Hanson and
posed questions from viewers.
Hanson had said he wanted to use the forum to speak directly to
members about priorities for the 4.6 million-member ELCA, look forward
and share stories about mission. He also promised to host similar forums
in the future.
ELCA Communication Services, which managed the forum along with ELCA
Information Technology staff and others, reported the online video player
for the forum was launched 3,148 times, with 2,205 unique viewers. Top
viewership was in Minnesota, Illinois and Florida. Viewers in several
foreign countries also watched, the report said.
The forum was held as some ELCA congregations are considering
leaving the denomination or withholding finances as a response to the
actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
That assembly directed changes to ministry policies, creating the
possibility for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous,
same-gender relationships to serve as clergy and professional lay
workers. The directive has caused some disagreement in the ELCA.
Hanson asked members to continue to discuss the assembly's actions
and include those with differing opinions in those conversations; respect
other points of view; and remain united as the ELCA.
He addressed congregations that are redirecting or withholding funds
to register disagreement with the assembly's actions.
"Let me tell you when that line is cut, mission and ministry is
diminished throughout the world and throughout this church," he told the
forum audience.
He said the ELCA is a church where all people "can teach and preach"
with the integrity of their convictions on sexuality matters. The ELCA
is also welcoming people who "are coming to faith or being renewed in
their faith" because of the assembly's actions, Hanson said.
"We can be faithful Lutheran Christians and live with that tension
in the same church body. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that became our
witness?" he said.
He said the concept of "bound conscience" remains a question for
many, and there should be an "open" conversation about it. He added
that "we live under the authority of Scripture," but members must keep
asking each other "What does that mean?"
Hanson also commented on other topics:
+ Leadership: He urged leaders to focus on the complete picture of the
ELCA through "a wide-angle lens" versus focusing on human sexuality
issues. ELCA leaders and members need to encourage each other in their
ministries, Hanson said.
+ Mission: Every synod should convene leaders to study how "vibrant
ministries can happen in congregations," he said. Directors of
evangelical mission are being placed in synods to help congregations grow
as centers for mission, he said.
+ Anti-racism education and racial justice: Hanson said two full-time
churchwide positions will be combined into one. That doesn't diminish
the churchwide organization's commitment in this area, he said. He
invited the audience to advise him on the new job description. Hanson
also said that the churchwide organization is building groups to oversee
churchwide anti-racism work, and to work with synods and congregations.
+ Multicultural and ethnic-specific ministries: Hanson reported that 13
new congregations will be planted in 2010 in multicultural, ethnic-
specific communities throughout the ELCA. The ELCA Mission Investment
Fund provided grant funds to make this possible, he said. Hanson also
said the ELCA cannot use multicultural, ethnic-specific communities
as "pawns" in a struggle over sexuality. He said the ELCA "needs to
sustain these vibrant ministries."
+ ELCA restructuring: A task force has been appointed to study church
structures and relationships throughout the ELCA, and changes that
have taken place since the church was formed in 1988. Hanson said he was
less concerned about structure than he is about mission. "We're in that
study now. I can guarantee you that it will not be a top-down decision.
It will be a conversation to which we invite the church."
+ Ecumenical and global relationships: The presiding bishop said that
since the churchwide assembly, the ELCA has been working specifically to
tend relationships with other churches in the United States and globally.
Hanson said he hopes that in the next eight years, the ELCA can
train 1,000 evangelists to help the church grow, informed by global
companion churches. He also urged congregations to study the ELCA's
social statements alongside real-life social challenges, such as health
care.
---
Video of the "Town Hall Forum" is at http://www.elca.org/townhall on
the ELCA Web site.

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