April 3, 2009

CHICAGO – Lutherans Concerned/North America (LC/NA) is "pleased but cautious" in response to actions taken by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to send a "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Polices" and a proposed social statement – "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" – to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly for consideration.

LC/NA, based in St. Paul, Minn., is an independent Lutheran organization that relates to the ELCA through the churchwide organization's Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission program unit.

The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between assemblies, which are held every other year. The council met here March 27-30. The 2009 assembly will meet Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis.

The Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality released the proposed social statement Feb. 19. If approved by the churchwide assembly, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust will become the ELCA's 10th social statement.

The task force also released Feb. 19 a report and recommendation for 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. The assembly will consider these changes in four steps to be taken consecutively.

"For the first time in the history of our church, a recommendation for the elimination of the policy of discrimination against ministers in same-gender relationships will come to the floor of the churchwide assembly," said Emily Eastwood, LC/NA executive director, in a March 31 news release.

Eastwood said the council's action to forward the recommendation on ministry policies to the assembly for its consideration is "a major step for justice and equality."

Eastwood said the proposed social statement "acknowledges what we have known for the last 30 years that we Lutherans are not of one mind on issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion. Still, this document recognizes that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are and always have been part of the great diversity of God's creation."

She said the statement "lifts up a common ethical standard for straight and gay alike, but, sadly fails to endorse a right or a rite of same-gender blessings or marriage."

"At the same time," Eastwood said, "the statement acknowledges that individual congregations of the ELCA are already offering such rites which inherently hold couples publicly accountable for living exemplary lives of fidelity, mutuality and respect. Ultimately, the church and society cannot rightly expect monogamy (being married to one person at a time) without offering a rite of marriage to same-gender couples."

The council also voted to uphold its November decision recommending the 2009 assembly require a simple majority to adopt recommendations, resolutions, memorials or any other motions originating from, or relating to the subject of a task force report.

"This action by the Church Council is one of basic fairness," said Eastwood. "Any suggestion to change the rules at the last minute would be seen as prejudicing the outcome based on the content of the report and recommendation," she said. "We applaud this action of the council and pray that the assembly will follow suit."

Information about Lutherans Concerned/North America is at http://www.lcna.org/, on the Internet.

The task force's "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" and "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" are available at http://www.ELCA.org/faithfuljourney/, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service