Will the ELCA authorize gay clergy?  The vote on this highly anticipated issue is today.  Discussion and debate has already been underway and will continue this morning. The issue comes up in the context of A Report and Recommendation on Ministry Guidelines. 

For those who have been following the assembly on this blog or elsewhere, you know that a social statement on human sexuality (The Sexuality Statement) was adopted by the assembly on Wednesday.  The social statement is a teaching document or a broad view of the church’s understanding of certain social issues.  The social statement does not contain any policy provisions per se, but policy decisions, such as Ministry Guidelines, may grow out of a social statement.

The Sexuality Statement passed by a 2/3 majority.  The Recommendation on Ministry Guidelines needs only a majority to pass.

The present policy of the ELCA is to allow gays and lesbians, who are otherwise qualified to serve in the ordained ministry or as rostered leaders, only if they avoid “same-gender sexual intimacy.”  A number of individuals and congregations have challenged this policy with the result that gay clergy presently serve in various congregations but they are not rostered with the ELCA (or, if once rostered, then considered to be “on leave from call”) and the congregations are censured.  See my earlier blog post on these situations.

The proposed recommendation would change this policy to allow gay or lesbian clergy and rostered leaders in “publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.”  The task force that made the recommendation recognized the concerns of many and offered a “bound conscience” provision that commits the ELCA to respect differing opinions when implementing the resolution. 

Check out other Goodsoil blogs. Goodsoil Central & Rev Dawn.

The vote is in and the sexuality statement has passed by the exact 2/3 majority necessary – not one vote too many.

Details to follow

What is the relationship between the Sexuality Statement and the Ministry Policy proposals?

They are complementary but not interdependent.  One could be passed without the other.  One is a teaching document and a statement of understanding, which does not address  specific church policies or procedures, and the other is purely policy and procedure.  The social statement provides intellectual support for gays and lesbians to be fully included in the life of the church while the Ministerial policy document provides the actual mechanism for allowing gays and lesbians to become ordained clergy.

While passing both would be logically consistent, that may not happen because Social Statements require a 2/3 majority, according to the ELCA constitution, while a change in Ministry policy merely requires a simple majority.  It is more than conceivable that the votes will be sufficient to pass the Ministry policy changes but insufficient to pass the Social Statement.

The common adage is that we don’t talk about religion and politics in polite conversation.  To that may be added, “and we certainly don’t talk about sex.”  Well, the Lutherans do.  Honestly.  Candidly.

The document stretches to 32 pages.  Click here to see the whole document.  In its essence, it speaks of relationship and trust.  Here is a sampling.

God created human beings to be in relationship with each other and continually blesses us with diverse powers, which we use in living out those relationships. These include powers for action, reasoning, imagination, and creativity.

Sexuality especially involves the powers or capacities to form deep and lasting bonds, to give and receive pleasure, and to conceive and bear children. Sexuality can be integral to the desire to commit oneself to life with another, to touch and be touched, and to love and be loved. Such powers are complex and ambiguous. They can be used well or badly. They can bring astonishing joy and delight. Such powers can serve God and serve the neighbor. They also can hurt self or hurt the neighbor. Sexuality finds expression at the extreme ends of human experience: in love, care, and security; or lust, cold indifference, and exploitation.

Sexuality consists of a rich and diverse combination of relational, emotional, and physical interactions and possibilities. It surely does not consist solely of erotic desire. Erotic desire, in the narrow sense, is only one component of the relational bonds that humans crave as sexual beings. Although not all relationships are sexual, at some level most sexual relationships are about companionship. Although some people may remain single, either intentionally or unintentionally, all people need and delight in companionship and all are vulnerable to loneliness.

The need to share our lives with others is a profound good (Genesis 2:18). The counsel to love and care for the neighbor is not a command that is foreign to our created natures; rather, reaching out in love and care is part of who we are as relational and sexual beings. Even if we never have sexual intimacy, we all seek and respond to the bonds and needs of relationships.

Sexual love—the complex interplay of longing, erotic attraction, self-giving and receiving defined by trust is a wondrous gift. The longing for connection, however, also can render human beings susceptible to pain, isolation, and harm. The desire for sexual love, therefore, does not by itself constitute a moral justification for sexual behavior. Giving and receiving love always involves mixed motives and limited understanding of individual and communal consequences.

The sharing of love and sexual intimacy within the mutuality of a mature and trusting relationship can be a rich source of romance, delight, creativity, imagination, restraint, desire, pleasure, safety, and deep contentment that provide the context for individuals, family, and the community to thrive. (emphasis added)

Yesterday at the Convention, little happened legislatively, but the day was set aside for debate, dialogue, and discussion.  Here is a summary provided by Phil Soucy, the Director of Communications for Lutherans Concerned, North America (one of the advocacy groups operating under the Goodsoil umbrella).

The principal activity on the assembly floor was related to the Social Statement on Human Sexuality.  First, it was introduced onto the floor of the assembly.  Following the introduction, the assembly went into a quasi-Committee of the Whole, for the purpose of having a discussion without the encumbrance of parliamentary procedure.  People simply lined up at the microphones labeled Red and Green depending on whether they were against or for the adoption of the Social Statement.  The Presiding Bishop, Mark Hanson, using a computer program that kept track of who arrived in the line at the mic when, called on people alternating between against and for until he ran out of time or people to call on.

More time had to be allocated because things ran late in the morning, and part of the afternoon had to be used to finish out the 60 minutes allotted for this discussion.

Later that afternoon there was a hearing held on the Social Statement, among other hearings.  There was also a hearing before dinner on the Ministry Policies and one after – to allow those who went to the Social Statement hearing to go to one on Ministry Policies.

I will not bother to tell you the arguments that were made.  You are perfectly capable of guessing all of the arguments from both sides.  They have been made over and over again.  I heard no argument, pro or con, that I had not heard before.  That does not mean that the arguments should not be made.  They should be.

It is important to note that the disagreement we have with those opposed to full inclusion is not over the authority of Scripture in the life of the church, or in the life of any member of the church.  Scholars disagree on the interpretations of Scripture, and that is something Lutherans can do till the Second Coming.  Questioning someone else’s interpretation of Scripture does not constitute an assault on the authority of Scripture.  (emphasis added)

Legislative action on the social statement is scheduled for this afternoon.  The proposed changes in Ministry policy (allowing gay and lesbian ordination) will be considered tomorrow.

Goodsoil is an umbrella group of several LGBT advocacy groups including Wingspan Ministries of St Paul-Reformation Church, Lutherans Concerned North America, and The Network for Inclusive Vision.  Goodsoil becomes the face – and the voice — of the LGBT community at Churchwide Assemblies with a ministry of presence; we are here.  As a first time volunteer for Goodsoil, it has been a real joy to hear the faith stories of so many.

The first day, we all marveled at the stack of donated prayer shawls.  The shawls are worn by the prayer warriors who pray in the worship space of the assembly while the plenary sessions are underway next door, and also by workers in Goodsoil Central.  The shawls were gifted from individuals and congregations around the country, and Goodsoil volunteers will each bring a prayer shawl back to their home congregations.  On Monday afternoon, the shawls were dedicated with prayer and laying on of hands.

The volunteers are taught how to participate in “graceful engagement”, with an emphasis on graceful.  “Just tell your story.  Share what your faith means to you.  Share your love of the ELCA.  Share the scripture that touches you.”  Ok, we can do that.  But, so far every time I attempt to engage in conversation, I discover that I am preaching to the choir.  “Yes, Goodsoil.  Good work!  I think it’s going to happen, it’s time.”

I’m a newbie, but there are many who have been Goodsoil volunteers for several prior assemblies.  They say they are hopeful, but also realistic.  “But, if it doesn’t happen this time, then the next.  Or, the next.”  The coordinators of hallway “graceful engagement” are Paul and Karen Jolly of the Portland area who are veterans of several Church wide assemblies.  They are advocates on behalf of daughter, Trista, a lesbian in a committed relationship who feels simultaneously called to the ministry but excluded by current ELCA Ministry policies.

The Goodsoil Central headquarters was graced this afternoon by the presence of retired Presiding Bishop Herbert Chilstrom and retired St Paul Area Synod Bishop Lowell Erdahl.  The pair co-authored a book a number of years ago entitled Sexual Fulfillment, and they visited and signed books today.  Chilstrom wrote a letter recently to voting members of the assembly encouraging passage of the Sexuality Statement and Ministry Guidelines.

Two other blogs have been started just in the past few days to track Goodsoil.  Goodsoil Central & Revdawn.  I’ve met these folks and encourage you to check out their blogposts.

Talk to you soon.

This is complicated.  Allow me to try to simplify, but bear with me.

Broadly speaking, there are two LGBT issues that will come before this 2009 ELCA Church wide assembly.  One is the adoption or rejection of a Sexuality Social Statement.  The second is a proposed change in Ministry Policies.

According to the ELCA Constitution, there are three matters that require a 2/3 supra-majority.  1)  Amendments to the Constitution, 2) Full communion agreements with another denomination, and 3) Social Statements.  Since the Proposed Sexuality Statement is a Social Statement, it will require a 2/3 supra-majority to pass.  This requirement was not at issue this evening.

On the other hand, there are proposed changes in the existing Ministry policies of the church.  The present policies require gay and lesbian persons to remain celibate in order to become ordained.  This policy came into existence by majority votes of previous bodies, specifically the Council of Bishops, many years ago.  Recently, the Council of Bishops has proposed a change in the Ministry policies that will allow gay and lesbian persons in committed relationships to become or remain ordained.  In proposing the changes for consideration by the Assembly, the Council of Bishops established a simple majority rule, which would be consistent with prior decisions on ministry policy.

It was this latter rule that was the subject of the conservative’s motion.  The motion was to change the rules to require a 2/3 supra-majority to adopt or amend the proposed changes to ministry policy.

Debate went on for over an hour with speakers alternating between those favoring and those opposing the motion.  The arguments were varied but two predominated.  For the conservatives, the “wisdom of the ages” and similar sentiments came up often.  Changes to  long standing policies and attitudes should only come about through strong consensus, defined as a 2/3 majority.

Those who argued against the proposed rule change also argued history.  It has always been the history to adopt ministry policies by a simple majority.  Since the prohibitions against gay clergy were adopted by simple majority vote, reversal of the prohibition should also require only a simple majority.  When the decision was made to allow women clergy, (a Ministry policy change), a mere simple majority was required.  A gay man spoke, asking why gays should be singled out for a more stringent procedural rule than other ministerial policy decisions.

In any case, the motion to change the requirement from simple majority to supra-majority failed.  43% voted in favor of the motion and 57% voted against.

Clear as mud?   Sorry, that’s the best my addled brain can do at this hour after conventioneering all day. 

Suffice it to say, this was a huge victory for those who promote a change in ministerial policy that will open the door to ordaining gays and lesbians.  If this vote in any way presages the  vote on the substance of the measure (and many think it will), then a 57-43% split suggests a strong probability that the substantive measure will pass when it comes up for a vote later this week.

At 9:55 pm on August 17th, 2009, the first significant vote is in.  In a procedural vote, a motion by the conservative opposition to the pro-gay ministry policies failed!  The vote to change the rules failed by a margin of 43% for the conservative’s procedural motion to 57% against.

More details to follow.

Tomorrow afternoon, August 17, 2009, the ELCA opens its biennial church wide assembly in Minneapolis, #CWA09.  As always, there will be lots going on, but this year all attention is on the sexuality statement and proposed resolutions that will allow gay clergy and gay marriage.

Will the ELCA join the United Church of Christ (UCC) and Episcopal Churches as the only sizable Christian denominations in the US that allow inclusion of LGBT persons in the fullness of church life?  If so, the ELCA will become the largest religious denomination anywhere in the world to do so (The UCC has slightly over 1 million members, and the Episcopal Church has slightly over 2 million members; the ELCA has 4.6 million).

On the eve of the convention, the major newspaper in Minnesota suggests the respectful attitude known hereabouts as “Minnesota Nice” will prevail.  According to the story in the Star Tribune on Sunday,

"We’re Lutherans; we’re insistent but polite," said Phil Soucy, spokesman for Goodsoil, a coalition of groups supporting ordination of gay ministers, including the St. Paul-based Lutherans Concerned.

The Rev. Mark Chavez, spokesman for Lutheran CORE, which opposes gay ordination, will be working to defeat the proposal but promised that arguing will not turn into yelling. "Anyone who has seen coverage of any of our earlier assemblies knows that’s not our style," he said.

The question for many is what happens after; what will the losers do?

Bishop Mark Hanson, the Twin Cities native who leads the ELCA, said that no matter how the vote comes out, he’s intent on keeping the losers from rebellion.

"It is my commitment and my conviction that we will not succumb to this polarizing question that often divides communities," he said.

Across the Mississippi River, the St Paul Pioneer Press offers AP articles by reporter Patrick
Condon.  His latest article suggests that conservatives are pondering how to respond if the resolutions are passed, noting that there will be discussions about leaving the ELCA but many prefer:

[S]taying in the ELCA and “struggling from within … can we stay and work on our disagreements? That’s a biblical approach as well."

On Saturday evening, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered offered a lengthy feature on the upcoming assembly by Barbara Bradley Hagerty, all but predicting that the resolutions will pass.

First it was the Episcopalians, now it’s the Lutherans. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one of the largest Christian churches — is on the brink of sanctioning gay clergy members.

And now, the pro-gay lobby is gaining momentum — less through bomb-throwing than just wearing the conservative opposition down …They say Jesus was all about including everyone in his work and mission … even conservatives believe that change is inevitable — if not this year, then at the next assembly in 2011.

I will be in attendance and live blogging from the assembly.  Watch this space for regular updates or follow on Twitter by signing up using the “Share Save" button below.  Click here for earlier posts about the convention.

UPDATE:

Here are a couple of news stories from Monday morning.

An Arizona Republic article wonders about members and congregations that may leave the ELCA and weighs in on the local effect in the Southwest.  One Arizona mega church, Community Church of Joy of Glendale, Az, has apparently already chosen to leave the ELCA, even before the historic votes in Minneapolis.

On the other hand, the article also refers to the local option of the resolutions, and quotes synod Bishop Stephen Talmadge,

"It’s possible some people are able to see the ultimate impact on (their) local church" may be minimal, he said.

"Some people have said, ‘We’re tired of continually battling this. Let’s focus on our mission.’"

The article also points out the generational divide on perceptions.

Some young people at Community of Grace Lutheran Church in Peoria say they differ with many of their elders on gay-clergy issues.

"If someone believes enough in their faith to be ordained, who am I to stop them?" asked Laura Wright, 26. "My dad totally disagrees with me.

The Washington Times offers perspective from the Synod bishops in Virginia and Maryland-Delaware.

On Monday, August 17th, the ELCA 2009 Churchwide assembly will convene at the Minneapolis Convention Center and will continue through the week.  According to the latest ELCA statistics, there will be 1,037 voting members chosen at 65 regional synod assemblies earlier this year.  Roughly 39% of the electorate will be ordained clergy, and 61% will be laity, and they all join together as a single, unicameral legislative body. 

There will be worship, workshops, hearings, and, of course, the plenary sessions in which the voting members will conduct the business of the ELCA.  According to the polity of the ELCA, these biennial assemblies are the ultimate legislative authority and here is where the rubber meets the road.  Social statements, administrative actions, Council of Bishops proceedings, and all other official, semi-official, and auxiliary functions of the ELCA are subject to Churchwide policies determined by the biennial assemblies.

Here is a list of the principal items of business that will come before the assembly this year.

"Book of Faith": Lutherans Read the Bible

Budget

Evangelizing Congregations

Lutheran Malaria Initiative

Middle East Strategy

Ministry Policies Recommendation

Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality

Full-Communion Agreement with The United Methodist Church

Without question, the Sexuality Statement and resolutions pertaining to LGBT relationships will be the primary focus because, if adopted, the ELCA will become the largest religious denomination in the US or anywhere in the world to allow the ordination of persons in same-gender relationships and to allow local congregations to bless such relationships (gay clergy and gay marriage). 

As we come to this potentially historic moment, it is appropriate to look back at the history of the ELCA vis a vis LGBT issues.

Already the two largest Lutheran denominations in America, the Lutheran Church in America and American Lutheran Church (along with smaller Lutheran bodies) merged to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) in 1987.  The first test of ELCA policy regarding gay clergy came quickly in San Francisco.

In 1988, Jeff Johnson received his Master of Divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.  Following graduation, he worked for Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, dealing with the exploding HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Then, he received a call to the ordained ministry from First United Lutheran Church of San Francisco, but he was ineligible according to the ELCA policy that required a pledge of life-long celibacy from gay and lesbian pastors.

Nevertheless and despite dour warnings from the synod bishop, “Pastor Johnson [along with a lesbian couple, Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart, who were called to St Francis Lutheran of San Francisco] was ordained extra ordinem on January 20, 1990 at a service at historic St. Paulus Lutheran Church in San Francisco that was attended by over 1000 persons, with participation by over 70 clergy members.”  First United Lutheran and St Francis Lutheran were placed on trial and expelled from the ELCA in 1995. 

In 1999, Pastor Johnson accepted a new call as Pastor of University Lutheran Chapel and as Lutheran Campus Pastor of the University of California, Berkeley.  University Lutheran Chapel received a “letter of censure” from the synod bishop at that time, but no further action has been taken by the ELCA or the regional synod.  Pastor Johnson continues to serve in that call.

First United Lutheran Church of San Francisco has thrived in its ministry to the LGBT population in its community, and continues to maintain informal ties with the ELCA.  Pastor Susan Strouse, the present pastor of First United Lutheran, has advised me in private correspondence that the congregation continued to be part of their ELCA conference and Pastor Jeff Johnson actually served as conference Dean for a period!  Pastor Strouse continues to be ELCA rostered clergy although she is technically “on leave from call” (and not accruing pension benefits?).  She is also rostered with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM).  The current bishop has expressed interest in resolving this festering issue, but “much bridge building and healing would have to take place,” Pastor Strouse says.

Since then, there have been numerous, additional extra ordinem ordinations:

Donna Simon – October 28, 2000 in Kansas City: Pastor Simon was called by Abiding Peace Lutheran.

Craig Minich – February 18, 2001 in Berkeley: Pastor Minich is called by two Oakland churches and University Lutheran in Berkeley.

Anita C. Hill – April 28, 2001 in St. Paul, Minnesota: Pastor Hill was called to St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Sharon Stalkfleet – May 12, 2002 in the Bay Area: Pastor Stalkfleet is called to the East Bay Nursing Home.

Jay Wiesner – July 25, 2004 in Minneapolis, MN: Pastor Wiesner was originally called by Bethany Lutheran Church in Minneapolis; he is now serving University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia.

Erik Christensen – October 21, 2006 in Chicago: Pastor Christensen was called to St. Luke’s of Logan Square.

Megan Rohrer – November 18, 2006 in San Francisco: Pastor Rohrer was called to be the director of the Welcome Ministry with a call from HerChurch; Christ Church; St. Francis and Sts. Mary and Martha in San Francisco.  Rohrer became the first openly transgender person to be ordained in the Lutheran church.

Dawn Roginski – June 16, 2007 in San Francisco: Pastor Roginski was called on March 25, 2007 by St Francis Lutheran Church of San Francisco to serve as its Pastor of Parish Programs.

Jen Rude – November 17, 2007 in Chicago: Pastor Rude was called to Resurrection Lutheran and the Night Ministry in Chicago.

Jen Nagel – January 19, 2008 in Minneapolis: Pastor Nagel was called to Salem Lutheran where she had been serving for four and a half years as a pastoral minister.

Lionel Ketola – May 16, 2008 in Newmarket Ontario: Pastor Ketola was called to Holy Cross where he will serve as associate pastor and Ambassador of Reconcilliation.  Ketola became the first legally married gay man to be ordained in the Lutheran church. Later, the congregaton and the pastors who participated in the ordination were censured by the local bishop, who is investigating whether or not to further discipline the congregation.

Lura Groen – July 26, 2008 in Houston, Texas: Pastor Groen was called to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Jodi Barry – October 25, 2008 in Minneapolis, MN: Pastor Barry was the first pastor called by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries to a specialized ministry. Pastor Barry is a Hospital Chaplain.

UPDATE:  Pastor Susan Strouse offers a pair of recent additions to the list:

Jay Wilson – December 6, 2008 in San Francisco:  Pastor Wilson was called to First United Lutheran Church as Minister to the Welcome Ministry.

Steve Keiser – January 25, 2009 in Philadelphia: Pastor Keiser was called to the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion.

Of these, the ordination of Pastor Anita Hill of St Paul especially drew national attention.  Pastor Hill’s synod bishop at the time was Mark Hanson who now serves as the ELCA’s Presiding Bishop.  An active bishop of the ELCA, Paul Egertson of The Southwest California Synod, and Rev. Dr. Krister Stendahl, Bishop of the Church of Sweden, participated in the ordination of Pastor Hill.  Pastor Hill’s congregation, St Paul-Reformation Lutheran, was censured, admonished, and placed under sanctions by the ELCA.  The sanctions have been now been withdrawn while the censure remains. 

At the 2005 Churchwide Assembly in Orlando, Pastor Hill and around one hundred others protested ELCA LGBT policy by marching to the podium during a plenary session.  Their actions were not well-received.  Upon returning to her church in St Paul, Pastor Hill told the story in her sermon of August 28th, 2005, and she has graciously provided a copy to me.

I saw 100 people wearing rainbows (including 15 St. Paul-Ref members) walking to the front of the plenary hall as the business ground to a halt. As Margaret Schuster said: “There was disapproval raining down on our heads.” My heart beat fast and my hands shook. I heard the voice of our presiding bishop asking us to return to the visitor section. I heard the tension in the murmurs and groans of many voting members. It was hard to stand still. Bishop Mark Hanson was my bishop in St. Paul before his election to churchwide office. He has been my shepherd. I know his voice.

But we stood firm in our places.

We risked our reputations, risked losing the respect of the church we’ve been nurtured in along with our families for generations. We studied non-violence, sought to let our love be genuine, especially toward those we perceived to be against us; searched our hearts for ways to express God’s love as we brought our message to the church. Even without voice our message was delivered: no longer can you make decisions about us as though we are an “issue” to be handled by policy and procedure. We are human beings beloved of God, marked with the cross of Christ forever, just like you. As you make decisions, you’ll have to look into our eyes and faces, and see that we love God enough to suffer and to persevere in prayer and action.

But we stood firm in our places.

I’m convinced that whether the change we seek comes sooner or later, we must continue to be a congregation that embraces “justice rooted in gospel.” I’m ready for the day when I am a pastor known not only for being lesbian, but known for teaching, preaching, and leading in ways that move our community to care for those who are hungry, homeless, or sick, those in need of love and care, the “little ones” of the world. Let our community grow in global awareness and response even as we care for this particular metropolitan area. Let us live well and share well and witness well. Let us confound those who cannot fathom our faithful enterprise.

But we stood firm in our places.

Next week, Thursday, a play will be performed as part of Goodsoil’s programming during the ELCA Churchwide Assembly (8:00 pm, August 20, Wesley United Methodist Church, 101 E Grant St, Minneapolis).  The play is entitled Come to the Table and “testifies to the power that a vision of inclusiveness has in the healing and growth of a congregation. Come and be inspired.”