ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 13, 2003 ELCA Assembly Discusses Progress on Church's Studies on Sexuality 03-CWA-16-MR MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Some voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed the progress of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality and the work of the church's task force overseeing the studies at an Aug. 12 hearing. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. There are about 2,100 people participating, including 1,031 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: For the Healing of the World." The hearing is a time for voting members of the assembly to share observations and concerns and ask questions, said Judy G. Biffle, Houston, Texas, member of the ELCA Church Council -- the ELCA's board of directors and the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. It is an "open meeting" for voting members, but not a time for formal presentations, said Biffle, who serves as an advisor to the studies' task force. At the direction of the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the church is conducting a comprehensive four-year study on homosexuality. That assembly also asked for a social statement on human sexuality. Current ELCA policy expects ministers to refrain from all sexual relations outside marriage. Since the church has no official policy on blessing same-gender relationships, this precludes homosexuals in relationships from ordained ministry. The ELCA Conference of Bishops, an advisory body of the church, stated it does not approve of such ceremonies. The 2001 assembly called for a progress report on the studies to the 2003 assembly and a final report with recommendations to be presented to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. It also asked the Division for Church in Society to prepare a social statement on human sexuality. The Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, assembled by the ELCA Division for Ministry and Division for Church in Society in May 2002, assists the divisions in developing study materials, recommendations and proposals regarding the assembly mandates. The first of the study materials was distributed that summer. It was based on "A Message on Sexuality: Some Common Convictions," which the council adopted in 1996, outlining matters of sexuality accepted by Lutherans. A "drafting team" -- a subcommittee of the task force -- has produced study materials on homosexuality for ELCA congregations. The materials, to be available in September, will serve as the second part of the church's study. Biffle introduced the Rev. James M. Childs Jr., director, ELCA Studies on Sexuality, and the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England Synod and chair of the task force. Childs and Payne provided brief opening comments and proceeded to field questions from participants at the hearing. "It seems to me that we're taking an awfully long time to make decisions. Why are we begging the question and taking so long to decide?" said William H. Taylor Jr., voting member, ELCA Central States Synod. In response, Childs said the "feeling of impatience is understandable." He said the task force "really cares about theology" and "about one another." Childs also said that it "takes time" to address issues. The Rev. David W. Shockey, voting member, ELCA Indiana- Kentucky Synod, asked how intentional members of the ELCA have been in "getting input from Lutheran brothers and sisters of the Lutheran World Federation." Childs said he attended the Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, July 21-31, 2003, Winnipeg, Canada. He said the assembly produced a message that stated its commitment to encourage and support Lutherans in a study and dialogue process on issues of marriage, family and human sexuality. The message is available at http://www.lwf-assembly.org/ on the Web. Christine L. Summy, voting member, ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, sought "advice on the definition of sin." Summy said there is "much opinion" on the definition of sin and asked how "to deal with it theologically." In response, Childs said the second set of study materials to be available this summer addresses "sin and [the] moral questions we ask ourselves in life." William Lynch, voting member, ELCA Southern Ohio Synod, said, "I know I'm a sinner, but has the task force considered whether or not the homosexual act is a sin?" "We most certainly have wrestled with that question. I encourage you to tackle that question," said Payne. In response to a voting member's comment on "Lutheran Scripture as the authority of our faith," Childs said "biblical discussion dominates the study book" and its supporting materials. He said the task force has "paid a lot of attention to the Bible." Payne said wisdom, love and grace are "gifts of the spirit" that need to be prayed for "as we practice holy listening." She challenged participants to be "ambassadors" in the church, encouraging people to listen to one another, particularly to those with "broad viewpoints." Human sexuality "will not be the only tough conversation in the church," Payne said. She added that the study and discussion process "should serve as a model for the church" for the future. -- -- -- Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.elca.org/assembly/03 on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news