October 26, 2009

CHICAGO – Carlos Peña, vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), wrote an Oct. 23 letter to the church's 4.6 million members, asking them to consider actions of the ELCA's 2009 Churchwide Assembly "as a catalyst to further strengthen our church and our relationships with each other."

Peña related his experiences of devastation after Hurricane Ike struck his hometown of Galveston, Texas, in September 2008. "One year later, I can see the benefits of this experience," he wrote. "Galveston is coming back stronger than before and welcoming citizens and businesses, both old and new."

"I feel as though I have experienced a resurrection. Good things are coming to light out of the chaos and darkness of what seemed like a hopeless situation," Peña wrote.

The assembly adopted a social statement on human sexuality, and it adopted proposals to change ELCA ministry policies, including a change to make it possible for Lutherans in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, clergy, deaconesses and diaconal ministers.

Peña's letter responded to reports of dissatisfaction with the assembly actions from some in the ELCA. Some members have talked about leaving the church, and some say they are thinking of stopping their donations to the church.

"I have lived through vast changes and come out better and stronger for it," Peña wrote. "I know with all my heart that, with diligence and hard work, we can come through this together as a renewed church, boldly proclaiming God's mission for the sake of the world," he said.

Peña reminded ELCA members of the work their dollars do through the church. "Working together, we help alleviate hunger close to home and abroad. Without our help, people around the world would have a harder time recuperating from disasters. They need us and we need each other," he wrote.

"I pray for the continuing efforts of the ELCA, my understanding of people different from me, and the future, though sometimes it is hard to predict. And I pray for my fellow Lutherans that they may have the strength to commit and weather the storm," Peña concluded.

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly elected Peña to a second six-year term as ELCA vice president, the highest office a layperson holds in the church, and he chairs the ELCA Church Council. He is president of two companies in the Galveston and Houston areas.

The full text of Carlos Peña's letter is at http://bit.ly/nNgvG, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service