April 9, 2009

ST. LOUIS – Top leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), met as the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation March 24 to review proposals from the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality. The Lutheran leaders also discussed a report on LCMS synod structure and governance and other topics of interest.

Discussion focused on a proposed ELCA social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," and a "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies." The documents were transmitted last month by the ELCA Church Council to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly for consideration. The assembly is Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis.

While much attention has focused on the task force's discussion of same-sex relationships, the Rev. Rebecca A. Larson, executive director, ELCA Church in Society, expressed hope that people will give attention to the rest of the report on ministry policies. She said that the task force worked with the concept of "bound conscience."

"While the task force did not reach full agreement, it did affirm that different understandings can be included in our life together as a church," she said.

"We are not in agreement on how and whether to honor these relationships within the community of the church, but we are absolutely united in our understanding of our common baptism and commitment to be faithful in the ministry and mission to which the church is called," Larson said.

Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, executive director, LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations, questioned whether the ELCA report had addressed the full complexity of the topic. "The bound conscience of a Christian often includes being constrained by Christ's love to help a fellow Christian see how his or her conscience may be wrongly bound," he said.

The Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, LCMS president, commenting earlier on the report, said the LCMS has repeatedly affirmed that the historical understanding of the Christian church is that the Bible condemns homosexual behavior as "intrinsically sinful."

The LCMS representatives expressed the church's desire to assist the ELCA as it considers the recommendations of the task force. "We in the LCMS want to be helpful to you at this time, with integrity to our own church's position on this matter, but also with our prayers and with our love and concern," said the Rev. Samuel Nafzger, LCMS director of church relations and assistant to the president.

LCMS governance, structure and other topics addressed

The Rev. Jon Braunersreuther, senior assistant to Kieschnick, reported on LCMS restructure proposals. A task force is shaping the proposals for the 2010 LCMS convention. Braunersreuther said motivating factors were to support congregations in their mission and ministry, and better stewardship of church resources.

The participants discussed other topics in the meeting:

• They discussed a possible Lutheran Malaria Initiative aimed at containing the disease, which would involve the ELCA, the LCMS, Lutheran World Relief, Baltimore, and the United Nations Foundation.

• The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said the ELCA is placing a staff person in each of the ELCA's 65 synods to help strengthen congregations and grow local ministries.

• Kieschnick reported that the LCMS' Ablaze! initiative seeks to share the gospel with 100 million uncommitted or unchurched people worldwide by 2017. In collaboration with partner churches, the goal is to begin 3,000 ministries worldwide.

• Two participants in the U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue reported their positive experiences. The Rev. Donald J. McCoid, ELCA executive for ecumenical and inter-religious relations, and Nafzger described the meetings as intense and helpful dialogue, with good "give and take" by the presenters and participants. Their enthusiasm prompted Hanson to ask, "Why wouldn't it be wonderful to have dialogue together (between the ELCA and LCMS) if we can do it with the Roman Catholics?" Nafzger replied that he saw no reason not to do it, adding that such dialogue need not imply that the two church bodies were on the road to altar and pulpit fellowship.

ELCA News Service
Roland Lovstad is a freelance writer with the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.