July 2, 2009

CHICAGO – The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed "heartfelt commitment" to the unity of the ELCA and "deep confidence" that unity will not be lost because of decisions that will be made at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson commented on church unity in light of a proposed social statement on human sexuality, and a report and recommendation on ELCA ministry policies to be considered by the assembly. His remarks were contained in a June 30 message to ELCA professional leaders. The ELCA Churchwide Assembly meets Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis.

Hanson wrote that he is thankful for "thoughtful and respectful" discussion on both proposals at spring assemblies of the church's 65 synods. However, he wrote he's aware that ELCA members have a variety of opinions about the proposals and such differences have raised concerns about whether the ELCA is headed toward "a church-dividing decision."

"Sometimes, when I hear concerns about division in the ELCA, I worry that they express a fear that unity depends on the actions of church leaders or assemblies," Hanson wrote. "Our unity, however, comes to us because God gives it freely and undeservedly in Jesus Christ. Although everyone in leadership shares responsibility for stewarding our unity in Christ, it will not be won or lost at the churchwide assembly in a plenary session vote."

Hanson invited ELCA leaders to view the assembly as an opportunity for "faith-filled witness to the larger human family that struggles with division, and yearns for healing and wholeness that is real and true."

"We live in a polarized culture equates unity with uniformity and equates differences as a reason for division," Hanson wrote. "This moment, and our witness as a church body in the midst of it, deserves something better from us. We have the opportunity to offer the witness of our unity in Christ – diverse, filled with different-ness and differences, broken in sin, and yet united and whole in Christ. This moment deserves the witness of a community that finds and trusts its unity in Christ alone, engages one another with respect, and seeks a communal discernment of the Spirit's leading."

The presiding bishop said he is not advocating for any position on the proposals to be decided. "It is an honest expression of my conviction that the gospel of Jesus Christ, God's mission for the life of the world, and the members of this church deserve this witness from us: In Christ we are members of one body serving God's mission for the life of the world."

Hanson invited the professional leaders to join him "in confident hope, grounded in Christ, where we meet one another not in our agreements or disagreements but at the foot of the cross."

A task force developed the proposed social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust." Social statements are theological and teaching documents that form the basis for policy in the ELCA. The "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" asks the assembly to consider a process to change 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. Both documents were mandated by previous churchwide assemblies.

The full text of the presiding bishop's message is at http://tinyurl.com/m2gq82/, on the ELCA Web site.

Information about the 2009 Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service