by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
The Journal of Lutheran Ethics (JLE) February 2007 issue features
four discussion papers on the topic of human sexuality. The
papers were originally presented Jan. 3-5 at the 14th Annual
Gathering of Lutheran Ethicists at the Catholic Conference
Formation Center in Dallas. Forty-five ethicists, pastors,
graduate students and others from the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) gathered to address the topic.
Participants "gathered with a self-conscious eye to the ELCA's
process to develop a social statement on human sexuality for
possible adoption by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly," said the
Rev. Ronald W. Duty, assistant director for studies, ELCA Church
in Society. "About a half-dozen invited members and advisory
staff of the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality were
present (at the gathering) to take part in conversations, which
were designed to help inform the task force as it does its work"
in developing the social statement, he said.
Papers published in the February issue of JLE are "The Top Five
Things I Miss When Lutherans Talk about Sex: Crafting a New
Conversation" by Dr. Martha E. Stortz, Berkeley, Calif.; "For God
is also the God of Bodies: Embodiment and Sexuality in Martin
Luther's Theology" by Wanda Deifelt, Decorah, Iowa; "Re-Thinking
Adolescent Sexual Ethic: A Social Justice Obligation to
Adolescent Sexual Health" by Kate M. Ott, Guilford, Conn.; and
"Called to Serve Life: A 'New' Vision of Marriage as Vocation for
the Lutheran Tradition" by Laurie A. Jungling, Great Falls, Mont.
Soon to be published on JLE is "Contemporary Family Law and
Christian Ethics: A Critique of Critical Familism" by Don S.
Browning, Chicago.
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The Journal of Lutheran Ethics is at http://www.elca.org/jle on the ELCA Web site.
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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
