March 15, 2010

ITASCA, Ill. – The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed the time line for a new social statement on genetics at the conclusion of their meeting here March 5-9. The discussion occurred following an earlier closed session March 5 on this week's release of a draft social statement.

The draft, prepared by the ELCA Task Force on Genetics, will be released to the church and to the public on March 18, guided by ELCA policies. The social statement, planned for action by the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, was requested by the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Questions about the current time line were raised in the bishops' meeting by the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop, ELCA New England Synod, Worcester, Mass., and earlier in the meeting by the Rev. Craig E. Johnson, bishop, ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod. In the discussion that followed, bishops expressed both concern and affirmation for the document's time line. Bishops also discussed concern and affirmation for the time line during the closed session.

The draft provides a framework for discussion about a variety of current topics such as advances in medicine, stem cell research and genetic engineering of plants, animals and humans.

Some bishops expressed concern that the social statement and its potentially controversial topics are being presented to the church at a time when some parts of the ELCA are still immersed in controversy over decisions from the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. They were concerned that the church is "weary" and that some colleagues and members may need a break before getting into another social statement process so soon.

The 2009 assembly adopted a social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," and approved proposals that would create the possibility for Lutherans in committed, publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA clergy and professional lay leaders.

Other bishops, such as the Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod, Waverly, the Rev. Wayne N. Miller, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, affirmed the genetics social statement time line. They and others said they don't believe the church is weary, and that congregations already can decide on their own whether they want to engage in the study and discussion process. Some also urged their colleagues to read the document carefully because the topics in it are timely and significant.

Some other bishops said the discussion was about much larger topics: the "capacity" of the church as staffs and budgets get smaller, and how the ELCA plans to engage in mission in the future.

Task force co-chairs Janet Williams, Salt Lake City, and Dr. Per Anderson, Moorhead, Minn., said they are looking forward to the release of the draft this week.

"I can very much empathize with the stress that the bishops are feeling at this time," said Williams in an interview with the ELCA News Service. "I can strongly understand their concern about introducing a new topic into the mix."

Williams, however, said she sees no reason to change the time line for the social statement. "There are members who are looking for guidance about how to address and how to talk about genetics within the context of their faith. I personally think we have worked very hard to encourage use of … the Bible, our book of faith, as our first resource in looking at these questions. We are not looking at answers about what is allowable and what is not. This draft lays out tools for conversation without telling people how to react to these questions."

"We'd like to believe that the church's deliberation about our social statement will very much be a healing process," Anderson said. A delay in the social statement time line would be ‘a setback' for the task force and the process, he said in an interview.

"I can anticipate that if we were to delay this that the task force would be very disappointed. We really want to say that this social statement has the potential to be a landmark document in the church universal and in society. Lutheran ethicists are engaged in this, and we've led other denominations in this process. The study document that we released (in November 2008) has been highly praised as an outstanding piece of work. We really think we've done great work here."

The Conference of Bishops declined to consider a proposed "sense motion" that requested the ELCA Church Council – the church's board of directors and interim legislative authority between assemblies – to consider a delay in completing the social statement. Instead, it was recommended individual bishops communicate any concerns to liaison bishops who advise the council. The council's next meeting is April 9-11 in Chicago.

The Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, executive director, ELCA Church in Society, said the matter would be discussed with the council's Program and Services Committee at next month's meeting.

Information about the ELCA social statement on genetics is at http://www.ELCA.org/genetics/ on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service