May 22, 2009

CHICAGO – In an open letter to voting members of the 2009 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly, church leaders and theologians expressed concern over the "fidelity and future" of the denomination. As of May 22, more than 500 people had signed the letter.

The letter, made available May 19, centers on two documents released earlier this year by the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality – a proposed social statement for the church, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," and a report and recommendation for a process to consider changes to ministry policies that could make it possible for Lutherans who are in "publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gendered relationships" to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers.

The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly – the highest legislative authority of the 4.7-million member church – will consider both documents Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis.

In April Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform), an independent Lutheran organization that relates to the ELCA through its Vocation and Education program unit, asked theologians and church leaders to draft the letter and invited others to sign.

The task force documents "are perceived by some as compromises that will permit the ELCA to live faithfully with internal diversity on controversial ethical questions," the letter said.

"The proposals are in fact no compromise. They clearly imply that same-sex blessings and the ordination and rostering of homosexual persons in committed relationships are acceptable within the ELCA," the letter said. "The teaching of the church will be changed."

The signatories of the letter urge voting members of the assembly to defeat all of the proposals. They provided five reasons for rejection.

The first is that if the assembly chooses to accept the ministry recommendation with a simple majority vote, that will "alter the moral teaching on sexuality we have shared with the vast majority of the church past and present," the letter said. "We are concerned that such a procedure shows an indifference to the common mind of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church throughout the ages and across cultures." The letter urges that a two-thirds majority vote be required.

Second, the documents claim that the ELCA can live with "profound differences on sexual questions because our unity is centered exclusively on the gospel and the sacraments," the letter said. "The church is founded on the whole Word of God, both law and gospel. The task force texts seem to permit variation on all ethical questions, no matter how fundamental."

The third and fourth reasons cited in the letter are that if the ELCA were to approve the "public recognition of same-sex unions" or allow people in such relationships on the church's official rosters, "it would damage our ecumenical relationships," and "our unity in the office of ministry will be fractured." Fifth, on the concept of "bound conscience," the letter said, "Conscience can err. The Word of God, not conscience, is the final court of appeal in the church."

"We are deeply sensitive to the need of the church to provide pastoral care for all people. We are aware that there are some in the church who will disagree with this letter. Nevertheless, we feel we are called to support and advocate the biblical teaching on human sexuality," the letter said. "We pledge to you our prayers, and we invite you to work with us for the renewal of our church under the Word of God."

Signers of the letter include one current and several former ELCA synod bishops, two members of the task force, former churchwide office staff, theologians, seminary, college and university professors, members and others.

Other teaching theologians of the church and Christian theologians teaching at ELCA institutions issued a statement April 24 in support of the task force's recommendation on ministry policies. As of May 22, more than 145 theologians, former bishops, college and university professors and others had signed the statement.

The open letter is available at http://www.lutherancore.org/, on the Internet.

The theologians' statement is available at http://OT-studies.com/, on the Internet.

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

ELCA News Service