April 2, 2009

CHICAGO (ELCA) – Three members of the Task Force for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Studies on Sexuality issued a public statement March 28 to express their dissent over the content of two documents released by the task force. The chair of the task force responded to the statement.

On Feb. 19 the task force released a proposed social statement on human sexuality and a report recommending a process to consider changes to ministry policies that could make it possible for Lutherans in committed same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers.

Recommendations for both documents will be considered at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the church's chief legislative body, Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis.

Because of theological and pragmatic concerns and because the proposed recommendation allows the ELCA's 65 synods and individual congregations to "determine their own practice," the Rev. Scott J. Suskovic, the Rev. Corrine R. Johnson and the Rev. Carol S. Hendrix said they felt compelled to offer a dissenting position, which is featured in the Appendix of the task force's report (Dissenting Position 1).

Suskovic, Johnson and Hendrix began their statement with thanks and gratitude for the opportunity to serve on the task force. Although in disagreement with the other 27 members and advisors of the task force on "traditional biblical interpretation and theological principles," they said they were regarded with "great kindness, dignity and respect."

Suskovic is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Charlotte, N.C. Johnson serves as director for development and public relations, Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp, Crystal Falls, Mich. Hendrix, a retired pastor, served as bishop of the ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod, Harrisburg, Pa., from 2001 to 2007.

The pastors said changing current policies would sever the ELCA from the "ecumenical church and the Christian consensus down through the ages."

They contend that the task force's report and recommendation, "which advocate same-gender unions and the ordination of non-celibate homosexual persons, have little biblical, historical and traditional support."

Of critical importance when considering sexuality is the role of God's commandments in the "moral ordering of the Christian life," they said. "We are convinced that God's intention for marriage – life-long covenant of fidelity between a man and a woman – established as the First Institute in Genesis 2 and reaffirmed by Jesus in Mark 10: 6-9, serves as the center around which all Christian sexual ethics are defined."

The pastors recommend that voting members of the assembly "affirm and uphold" current ELCA ministry and discipline policies, and affirm the pastoral guidance in a 1993 statement of the ELCA Conference of Bishops. The statement says that "there is basis neither in Scripture nor tradition for the establishment of an official ceremony by this church for the blessing of a homosexual relationship." Pastors within their local contexts are to "provide pastoral care for all whom they minister."

The church is deeply divided on the issue of human sexuality, the pastors said. The recommendations of the majority of the task force represent a "radical change" that is not only contrary to Scripture but one that "will splinter our congregations, alienate many of our members, further divide the unity of this church" and "grieve the heart of God," they said.

The Rev. Peter Strommen, Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake, Minn., and task force chair, called the dissenting statement "unfortunate and unnecessary."

"It was unnecessary because their dissenting view is already included in the Report and Recommendations Appendix, which was distributed widely February 19. It is unfortunate because by identifying their names and characterizing the process, they acted contrary to agreed upon protocol and ELCA practice. For instance, their statement might be interpreted to indicate that everyone else was of one mind when in fact the views of task force members were quite varied and diverse," Strommen said.

"Normally the chair of a task force is the person who speaks publicly on behalf of the task force. I do not believe it was their intent to disrespect the process but note that while individual task force members are free to express their personal views, it is not appropriate for task force members to make formal public statements or initiate what may be perceived as their own news release," he said.

The "Statement by Three Dissenting Members of the ELCA Task Force on Human Sexuality" is at http://tinyurl.com/djwgop/, on the Web.

The task force's "Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies" is available at http://www.ELCA.org/faithfuljourney/, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service