0812 - 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly

Friday, August 12
Consideration of Sexuality Studies Recommendations

News Releases
ELCA Assembly Acts On Key Sexuality Proposals

ELCA Assembly Holds Discussion on Sexuality Proposals

Yesterday the Assembly spent considerable time discussing the three recommendations from the Church Council relating to the ELCA Studies on Sexuality. Today they will vote on these recommendations.

The Recommendations in Brief
Recommendation one calls on the ELCA to “live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements.”

Recommendation two relates to the blessing of same-sex unions and reaffirms that the ELCA “welcomes gay and lesbian persons into its life.”

Recommendation three is more complex. It reaffirms the current standards for rostering to (definition below) and proposes the creation of a process “for the sake of outreach, ministry, and the commitment to continuing dialogue, which may permit exceptions to the expectations regarding sexual conduct for gay and lesbian candidates and rostered leaders in life-long, committed, and faithful same-sex relationships who otherwise are determined to be in compliance with [current guidelines].” In addition this recommendation proposes changes to the bylaws that would be necessary in order for this recommendation to become ELCA policy.

The Process
In the Tuesday evening hearings on this issue Voting Members were reminded that the 2001 Churchwide Assembly asked for two studies on sexuality. One was to lead to the development of a social statement on sexuality. The work leading to such a statement is ongoing. The other study — “Journey Together Faithfully, Part II: The Church and Homosexuality” — dealt with the blessing of same-sex unions and the rostering of people in faithful, committed gay or lesbian relationships. After receiving input from across the ELCA the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality published its report in January 2005. In April the Church Council considered both the task force’s report and the responses from synods, boards, and the Conference of Bishops and put the three recommendations from the task force report into “legislative” language. As a result, three recommendations for action are before the Assembly today. Recommendations one and two are largely the same as the task force’s recommendations. Recommendation three is more complex and calls for changes to ELCA bylaws.

Preparation for Voting
Church Council and task force members answered questions at two hearings for Voting Members on Tuesday night. The text of each of the recommendations was reviewed in plenary session on Wednesday morning, and Thursday afternoon Voting Members spent time as “a quasi committee of the whole” discussing the recommendations and their implications.

Calls for amendment can be anticipated.

More on this
Press Conference
August 24th Press Conference with Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson

Deliberations on the Sexuality Study Recommendations from the Plenary Floor: Part One Part Two Part Three

Thursday's Worship
Holy Communion
Presiding Minister - Pr. Patricia Tunches Muran
Preacher - Pr. Victoria L. Hamilton
Listen to the sermon

Thursday's Video Clips
Press Conference
August 12th Press Conference with Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson

Sexuality Study Recommendations:
Part One Part Two Part Three

Plenary Clip
Pr. Gerald Kieschnick, President The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LC – MS)

Video News Release
Behind the Scenes

Video News Release
United Methodist Church

Video News Release
Ministry Strategies

Thursday's Audio News Releases
The Middle East is an important topic for Lutherans, especially because of their support for Christian Palestinians. So history was made.
MP3 | RealPlayer Stream

Lutherans adopted two strategies to reach out to specific ethnic groups in the United States.
MP3 | RealPlayer Stream