New!

The task force has released a new study to foster conversation across this church and to generate feedback that will guide its work. The study, “Conscience and Conversation: A Study During the Reconsideration of the Social Statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust,” invites reflection on agreement and disagreement in a church called to pursue justice and peace together through “the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3).

The sessions in the study come ready to use with prayers, hymns, Bible readings, conversation questions, and options for dividing the study into smaller sessions. There is a survey link for participants to share feedback with the task force.

Please prayerfully consider leading your congregation or small group in this study. Your feedback is essential as the task force prepares a first draft of the social statement for the church to consider.

The survey is open until Sept. 30, though additional questions and feedback can be sent to the task force here.

The Process

In 2022, the Churchwide Assembly authorized two reconsiderations (see pages 4-5 and 11 of this Assembly action summary) of the Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (2009) social statement:

• Reconsideration #1: A review of specific text references that “would consider the import that marriage legally is now a covenant between individuals;” review specific wording “in light of public acceptance of marriage of same-gender and gender-non-conforming couples;” and “consider references to diversity of family configurations;” and
• Reconsideration #2: A fresh consideration of the “church’s current concept of the four positions of bound conscience” found on pages 19-21 of Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.

In Spring 2024, the ELCA Church Council Executive Committee seated a task force to lead work on both reconsiderations. The task force represents a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Click here to learn about task force members.

The first reconsideration process was completed at the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Edits to Section IV were amended and adopted by a two-thirds vote (724-46).  The task force has now started the process for the second reconsideration. Resources related to the reconsideration will be made available throughout the process. As with the first reconsideration, the task force will provide a draft statement for public feedback.

Resources

You can read FAQs about the task force’s work here. The FAQs are also available in Spanish (click here) and in large-print (click here).  

To read a timeline of the task force's work, click here.

Read the full social statement as adopted in 2025 here. (Spanish versions here.)

Questions about the process can be sent to the task force at Reconsiderations@elca.org.

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View an update and invitation from the task force: May 2026 Task Force Video

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