January 24, 2005

CHICAGO - Many of the 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) wrote letters to professional church leaders, issued public statements or news releases in the wake of the Jan. 13 release of the long-awaited ELCA Studies on Sexuality task force report and recommendations. While the bishops differed on whether they agreed or disagreed with the recommendations, many sounded a pastoral tone in their responses, encouraging further conversation and discussion throughout the church about the report and recommendations.

The report recommended that the ELCA:

• concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements.

• continue to respect the pastoral guidance of the 1993 statement of the ELCA Conference of Bishops regarding the blessing of homosexual relationships. Currently, the ELCA has no policy on such blessings. The conference said its members could find no scriptural basis for such ceremonies and did not approve of them, but it affirmed efforts by pastors "to explore the best ways to provide pastoral care for all to whom they minister." The Conference of Bishops can only advise the church, and its statement has no legislative authority.

• continue under the ELCA standards regarding sexual conduct for professional lay and ordained ministers as set forth in "Vision and Expectations" and "Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline," but that, as a pastoral response to the deep divisions in the ELCA, the church may choose to refrain from disciplining those who in good conscience, and for the sake of outreach, ministry and the commitment to continuing dialogue, call or approve partnered gay or lesbian candidates whom they believe to be otherwise in compliance with "Vision and Expectations" and to refrain from disciplining those ministers so approved and called. Current ELCA policy expects ministers to refrain from all sexual relations outside marriage, which it defines as "a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman."

The recommendations will be discussed in a variety of venues throughout the ELCA this year, leading up to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 8-14. The assembly is expected to make decisions on whether or not the ELCA should have a policy on same-gender blessings and whether or not it will ordain and consecrate people who are gay or lesbian and in committed homosexual relationships.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, did not comment on the report's contents but reminded the ELCA that the "work is not done, nor have decisions been made."

"The task force report and recommendations give focus to our continuing conversations moving toward decisions at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly in Orlando," Hanson said. "I am deeply thankful for and proud of the people of this church for the way we have discussed sensitive issues. I have witnessed a church praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, studying the Scriptures, engaging in dialogue, challenging and listening in a climate of mutual respect. These conversations have taken place within a deep concern for the unity of the church and the mission to which God calls us for the life of the world. I trust these will be the marks of our continued work as we pray, study and share comments on this report and recommendations."

Hanson also expressed his appreciation to the director, staff and members of the task force.

Here is a sampling of comments in letters, news releases and statements from ELCA synod bishops:

+ The Rev. Roy G. Almquist, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Norristown - "I am frankly encouraged that so much of the recommendations by the task force encourages us to address this sensitive issue pastorally rather than legislatively. .We need to address issues of poverty and injustice in our nation; we need to focus on outreach and witness, particularly to young Americans and immigrant people; and we need to strengthen and undergird our congregations. These concerns require that we come together and rise above any one divisive topic."

+ The Rev. Edward R. Benoway, bishop of the ELCA Florida- Bahamas Synod, Tampa, Fla. - "While I understand and appreciate that the recommendations affirm the present practices of the church as is reflected by the majority response in the church, it is also good to hear the position of the minority and to be open to discover ways in which to follow the Spirit's leading in not only welcoming but also including those who are different from us in the ministry that God gives us."

+ The Rev. Robert D. Berg, bishop of the ELCA Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, Rice Lake - "The task force believes this is not a change in policy, but as I see it, it clearly is at least a change in practice which is not consistent with the current policy. For this reason, I expect there will be considerable debate regarding this [third] recommendation."

+ The Rev. Paul J. Blom, bishop of the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, Houston - "This [first] is by far the most important recommendation. It is the foundation of the entire report as well as the basis of further discussion on any topic where we disagree."

+ The Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod - "The report is honest about our disagreements, does not seek to force a false unity, declined to change existing policy regarding same-sex unions (left to pastoral discretion) and standards for ordination (celibacy outside of marriage), but left pastoral room and space in the application of these standards. . Those hoping that the proposals would call for full inclusion of gay and lesbian persons into the church will be disappointed. Those hoping [for] no change in the policies and no pastoral discretion in their applications will also probably be disappointed."

+ The Rev. David L. deFreese, bishop of the ELCA Nebraska Synod, Omaha - "We are a church that has always publicly nailed issues to the door so all could discuss them. ... The church can offer a safe, insightful place to talk about hard issues. I am grateful for how our church has conducted this conversation."

+ The Rev. Richard J. Foss, bishop of the ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod, Fargo - "The first recommendation is crucial, i.e., [that] the task force urges us all to continue to find ways to live together in the midst of various issues upon which we don't all agree. ... The report clearly states that the biblical- theological case of changing our current policies has not been made, and thus recommends maintaining our current standards; at the same time, they [task force members] tried to find a way to create space to live together acknowledging strong and differing understandings. . I believe that the task force had excellent intentions, did hard, faithful work on our behalf, and has provided a clear picture of the current complexities in this church."

+ The Rev. Carol S. Hendrix, bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, Harrisburg, Pa. - "As bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, I will continue to advocate for establishing consistent policies and practices in the ELCA that maintain our current standards for ordination and that do not provide for the blessing of same-sex relationships. At the same time, I affirm the ELCA's position to welcome gay and lesbian people to participate fully in the life of its congregations and to reject discrimination, assault and harassment of these individuals."

+ The Rev. Callon Holloway Jr., bishop of the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod, Columbus - "Caring for all people, regardless of their place in life, is always a very high priority and responsibility of us all. That will guide my exercise of responsibility and how I will seek to amend this particular [third] recommendation." [Holloway said a policy that would allow for divergent practice could create distrust and confusion.]

+ The Rev. Marie C. Jerge, bishop of the ELCA Upstate New York Synod, Syracuse - "I find the task force report's prayerful and pastoral approach to be consistent with the Lutheran tradition. When there is significant disagreement, this church has often turned to pastoral discretion and discernment. The intent is that the church will continue to be in dialogue around issues about which we don't agree."

+ The Rev. Craig E. Johnson, bishop of the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod - "I am grateful for the space which these recommendations propose to give to congregations and synods. These recommendations allow the discernment process concerning sexuality to continue because there are deeply held differences of opinion in our church."

+ The Rev. H. Gerard Knoche, bishop of the ELCA Delaware- Maryland Synod, Baltimore - "My hope is that we can model for the world a new way of dealing with strongly held disagreements, a way that is different from what we find in the society around us. Our unity in our common baptism and our common sharing of the Lord's Supper should be more important than these issues about which we have not yet found agreement. Pray for our church, pray for the Church Council, pray for the Spirit to lead us into all truth."

+ The Rev. Michael A. Last, bishop of the ELCA Western Iowa Synod, Storm Lake - "What's new is the encouragement of the task force to 'create space' of compassion for a diversity of beliefs among conscience-bound people of faith where there is no consensus on these matters of the blessings of same-sex unions, nor ordination, consecration, commissioning of non-celibate gay or lesbian individuals."

+ The Rev. A. Donald Main, bishop of the ELCA Upper Susquehanna Synod, Lewisburg, Pa. - "I am basically supportive of the three recommendations presented by the task force.... This option [recommendation three] has many problems but especially goes against my understanding of the ecclesiology of the ELCA."

+ The Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt, bishop of the ELCA Central States Synod, Kansas City, Mo. - "I encourage all in this synod to read the report carefully and to continue the conversations around these difficult issues in respectful ways."

+ The Rev. David G. Mullen, bishop of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod, Oakland, Calif. - "We need to allow for the consciences of all good-hearted ELCA Lutherans to be heard and given room in the church. We need to allow for gay and lesbian leadership to be acknowledged, experienced and reflected upon by the church."

+ The Rev. Michael J. Neils, bishop of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod, Phoenix - "The task force report recommends that existing practice be continued and our standards be upheld but suggests that if there is departure from our normative practice based on conscience and for the sake of mission that in some instances discretion may be used by bishops and synods in determining possible disciplinary action. Our church does not take stands of conscience lightly. ... Our church body is handling a very difficult set of issues with grace, patience, trust and respect for both individual conscience and traditional Lutheran teaching.... I affirm the task force recommendation that we stay focused on that mission. The other two recommendations are less clear to me."

+ The Rev. Richard R. Omland, bishop of the ELCA Montana Synod, Great Falls - "It has become clear to the task force that the disagreement over these issues before the church is deep, pervasive, multi-faceted and multi-layered. This church is not of one mind. How true these words ring! If one of the purposes of the Law is to show us our sinfulness by giving us a clear picture of ourselves, this report has done the job. The key challenge - and good news - comes to us all in the test of recommendation one as it recommends the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America concentrate on finding ways to live together in the midst of our disagreements. I'm heartily in agreement with this and call upon us all to work together to make this happen."

+ The Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England Synod, Worcester, Mass. - "The intent of the recommendations is to preserve the present written policy of the church while creating a space for further study, experience and discernment together of the role of gay and lesbian people in the ELCA. The task force is acutely aware of the problems and limitations associated with the recommendations, yet hopeful that this report can initiate a new phase of churchwide discussion that will result in resolutions that are wise and hopeful for the Churchwide Assembly in August 2005."

+ The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA St. Paul (Minn.) Area Synod - "The ELCA is a very public church. This report comes from listening to thousands of responses to this point, and will be shaped by responses and conversations in congregations, synods, among laity and clergy, throughout this church."

+ The Rev. David R. Strobel, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Wescosville, Pa. - "I am confident that we can find common ground in spite of our differences and continue to work together in mutual respect for the sake of the mission of the church in northeastern Pennsylvania."

+ The Rev. Ronald B. Warren, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, Atlanta - "Because I find sections of the report of the task force confusing, and because I think recommendation three is contrary to this church's position on sexual ethics (see Vision and Expectations at http://www.elca.org/ministry/documents.html), I am, therefore, unable to support the report and its recommendations in their present form. . One area of the task force report of which I am in full agreement is a portion of recommendation one, which reads: ." the task force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality recommends that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements."

+ The Rev. Martin D. Wells, bishop of the ELCA Eastern-Idaho Synod, Spokane, Wash. - "This was a week to be proud of our church. The release of our task force recommendations confirms what we have experienced: a careful, faithful, biblical journey into questions of human sexuality.... I look forward to our church's conversation over the next seven months. I support these recommendations as a good and healthy way to bring focus and clarity to the next phase of our conversation."

+ The Rev. Gary Wollersheim, bishop of the ELCA Northern Illinois Synod, Rockford - "I am proud of the manner in which our church has considered these difficult issues prayerfully, openly and with respect for differing views. . I am confident, with God's help, that we will make faithful decisions in August of 2005."

The task force report can be found at http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/ on the ELCA Web site. The 1993 Statement of the ELCA Conference of Bishops on blessing of homosexual relationships is at http://www.elca.org/sr/bishopsblessings.html and "Vision and Expectations - Ordained Ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" is at http://www.elca.org/candidacy/vision_ordained.html on the Web.

ELCA News Service