ELCA NEWS SERVICE October 15, 2003 ELCA Bishops Hear Upcoming Plans for ELCA Studies on Sexuality 03-186-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders working with the Studies on Sexuality of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) said they are interested in responses to a new set of study materials which were sent to professional church leaders in September. Also, the task force working with the study is planning a series of hearings throughout the ELCA to be held in mid- to late 2004. The Rev. James M. Childs Jr., director of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality, and the Rev. Margaret M. Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England Synod, Worcester, Mass., who serves as chair of the task force, reported Oct. 6 on the progress of the studies to the ELCA Conference of Bishops. The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop. The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body to the church, consisting of the church's 65 synod bishops, ELCA presiding bishop and ELCA secretary. The conference met here Oct. 2-6. "There is a depth and breadth of values at stake in this discussion beyond a vote on a question of policy," Childs said in his report. "We may have policy issues to sort out, but we also have ministry issues to sort out." In early September, the ELCA mailed about 18,000 copies of "Journey Together Faithfully, Part Two: The Church and Homosexuality" to the pastors and lay leaders of the church. The task force compiled the 49-page study guide and its background essays to help the ELCA's 5 million members consider how the church will respond in 2005 to specific questions about blessing same-sex relationships and accepting lay and ordained ministers in such relationships. In a discussion the Rev. Robert D. Berg, bishop of the ELCA Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, Rice Lake, pointed out that "at best," perhaps 20 percent of the congregations in his synod used the first set of study materials issued in 2002. And in each of those congregations, 10 to 20 percent of the members participated, he suggested. Berg said he understands that responses to the new materials are wanted, but he hoped that would not mean a "dismissal of other points of view." Reaction to the new study materials is the primary communication now, Childs said, and he said the task force is still interested in other comments. Payne agreed, saying it is important for people to know that others have successfully studied the new materials. "What we want is this learning and discerning process to go forward," Childs said, and adding he hoped the new materials would be used more than the first set. Berg said later he is hearing from members concerned that conversations about issues of sexuality may be of a "divisive nature." Two other bishops said the studies and accompanying materials have spurred action in their synods. The Rev. Marie C. Jerge, bishop of the ELCA Upstate New York Synod, Syracuse, said a "conflict team" in the synod invited members of the synod's gay and lesbian task force to meet with them, to work together on studies process issues and to encourage congregations to participate. The Rev. James R. Stuck, bishop of the ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod, Indianapolis, said his synod agreed to hold a synod-wide gathering to discuss the sexuality issues. "I would much rather have our leaders engaged in this," said the Rev. Peter Strommen, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Minnesota Synod, Duluth. Strommen, who represents the Conference of Bishops on the task force, said, "When people have these discussions, they really find they are pretty helpful." The task force is developing a protocol for hearings on the sexuality studies to be done in the second half of 2004, Childs said. More hearings are anticipated later as the task force considers development of a social statement on human sexuality for consideration by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly, he said. The new study booklet recommends that in the course of congregation or synod discussions on the sexuality issues, people with different points of view be included. That includes Lutheran Christians who are gay or lesbian and people who may have sought therapy for sexual-orientation concerns, Childs said. He gave an outline for such conversations from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada to the bishops. The suggestion for the conversations is intended to respond to a request from the 2003 Churchwide Assembly that was referred to the task force, Childs said. The Rev. Marcus C. Lohrmann, bishop of the Northwestern Ohio Synod, Findlay, said he hoped the church will see the study process as "a gift for us." The process could help the church "discuss tough issues in the context of what it means to be faithful," he said. The Rev. E. Roy Riley Jr., bishop of the ELCA New Jersey Synod, Trenton, and newly elected Conference of Bishops chair, said the ELCA bishops will engage in the new study materials together at their annual academy in January. He also said the bishops hope to meet jointly with the task force sometime next year. -- -- -- "Journey Together Faithfully, Part Two: The Church and Homosexuality" is available at http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/ on the Web. It is possible for ELCA members to respond to the study guide online. Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA, sells printed copies of the documents. Call 1-800-328-4648 with the publication number 6-0001-6848-9. Purchases are also possible through http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/ on the publisher's Web site. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news