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Conference of Bishops
With regard to the Report and Recommendations
of the Sexuality Studies Task Force:
As a Conference of Bishops we have not been of one mind on these
matters, and we are not of one mind on these matters now. Even so we
hold each other in love and respect. We recognize that our differences
are rooted in deeply held convictions. We honor the integrity of these
convictions of conscience and faith “with all humility and
gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making
every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”
(Ephesians 4:2-3).
For the sake of the unity of this church and its mission, we are not
divided by these differences. As evidence of this, we point to the
extraordinary engagement of this church in God’s mission in the world
and our full participation in that work. We thank God for this.
We see throughout this church that a commitment to the authority of
Scripture is not solely the concern of those who seek to maintain the
tradition. Similarly compassion for gay and lesbian persons and a
commitment that they be treated justly are not solely concerns of
those advocating change.
Humbly we offer this advice and counsel:
We urge this church to affirm recommendation one of the task force. We
understand that this recommendation commits us to continuing our journey
together for the sake of God’s mission. We understand that this will
mean finding ways to live together with mutual respect for all and in
true humility, honoring every part of the body, even as conversations
concerning matters of human sexuality continue.
During
this time of deliberation and the days following any possible
decisions, we encourage our public servants of the Gospel and all
baptized to:
1. Unite in prayer that God would guide us in this time of discernment
and decision making.
2. Unite in reading Scripture
together. We suggest reading the entire New Testament in the coming
months while we journey together toward the Churchwide Assembly.
3. Unite in weekly worship to
be nourished by Word and Sacrament.
4. Unite in practicing
forgiveness, recognizing the brokenness that exists in Christian
community.
5. Unite in inviting people who
do not participate in any community of faith to join us in hearing,
living in, and living out the Good News we know in Jesus Christ.
6. Unite in serving and loving
in Christ’s name our neighbors as we live out our many vocations.
7. Unite in study of our
theology to deepen and broaden our understanding of the authority of
Scripture, Law and Gospel, the theology of the cross, sin, and how we
live together as Christ’s Church.
8. Unite in reading Luther’s
Large Catechism.
Christ alone unites us, and calls us in all our differences to take
up the cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24).
We further ask that with respect to recommendation two, this church
affirm for pastoral guidance the 1993 Statement of the Conference of
Bishops, leaving it as it was intended—a matter of advice and counsel.
We acknowledge that as a conference we are unable to offer a
definitive word of advice on recommendation three. Some bishops are
convinced there should be no change in the practice and policy of our
church. Other bishops favor changes both in policy and in practice
though there is no consensus as to how such changes should take place.
We understand in all of this that we have responsibility for the
stewardship of the unity given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. We also
understand that we exercise that stewardship with brothers and sisters
of the whole Church throughout the world.
We further understand that we have a responsibility for protection of
the most vulnerable. This includes not only the poor, the widow, the
orphan, and the stranger, but also all who feel estranged by virtue of
their deeply held convictions.
“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live
in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that
together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).
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