ELCA NEWS SERVICE December 9, 2004 California ELCA Synod Hopes For Reconciliation In Congregation's Removal 04-232-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In the wake of a decision to remove Central City Lutheran Mission (CCLM), San Bernardino, Calif., from the congregational roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the bishop of the ELCA Pacifica Synod said he hopes someday to "find some reconciliation" between the synod and the mission. On Oct. 29 the ELCA Pacifica Synod Council removed the CCLM ministry -- officially called a "forming congregation" -- from the ELCA's congregational roster and ended its call to the Rev. David Kalke as CCLM's pastor/developer. The council acted because CCLM called the Rev. Jennifer Mason as associate pastor and installed her April 18. Mason is not on the official ELCA clergy roster, and the congregation's decision to call and install her without synod approval "is out of compliance with the constitutions, provisions and policies" of the church, according to the synod council resolution. The decision was affirmed when the council met Dec. 4. CCLM is still recognized as a social ministry organization in the ELCA, and the council's decision does not affect that status. Kalke remains on the clergy roster of the church and may remain as chief executive officer of the CCLM social ministry organization, according to the synod council action. The Rev. Murray D. Finck, bishop of the ELCA Pacifica Synod, Yorba Linda, Calif, told the ELCA News Service he finds "no victory" in the synod council's ultimate decision to remove CCLM from the congregational roster. The decision followed seven months of meetings and deliberations, including conversations with the CCLM directors concerning their decision to call and install Mason. "There's a lot of sadness in our synod, but there's been a lot of support," Finck said. "Many congregations, pastors and people in our synod have indicated they stand behind the council's difficult decision." Finck explained that Mason -- who is a lesbian living in a committed relationship, according to the Los Angeles Times newspaper -- was installed as associate pastor by the congregation without synod approval. Mason is not on the ELCA clergy roster and is not eligible for call into a pastoral position in the church, Finck said. At Finck's request, members of the CCLM board met with synod leaders before Mason was installed to discuss the situation. "We asked them to reconsider," Finck said. "We asked them not to install her. We asked that they let us converse with them and then work to resolve this." The board declined to change its position; the synod council action said the board declined to change its position on three occasions leading up to Oct. 29. Finck convened the synod's Consultation Committee to review the situation and report to the synod council. They worked for 10 weeks and brought their recommendations to the synod's leadership in August, he said. The council held an all-day special meeting Oct. 29 and took its action, he said. CCLM's board subsequently adopted two resolutions asking the council to rescind its Oct. 29 action removing the ministry from the congregational roster and ending its call to Kalke. At a meeting Dec. 4, the council declined CCLM's requests, though it did approve Kalke's request to remain on the clergy roster and be placed on leave from call. CCLM can reapply for congregational status, Finck said, adding that it "must abide by how our church has said it will work together." Finck emphasized that the central issue for the synod's leaders was compliance and consistency with the constitution and policies of the church, and to be consistent with other situations the synod had faced recently. It was not Mason's sexual orientation, he said. "What we have said to the [CCLM] board is that [Mason's orientation] may be the central issue for you, but it is not the central issue for us," Finck said. Finck added that the Pacifica Synod is a "Reconciling in Christ (RIC)" synod, and it had developed a multi-year plan to discuss and study sexuality issues throughout the synod and to prepare members for decisions on sexuality expected to be made at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Orlando. RIC is a program of Lutherans Concerned/North America which recognizes Lutheran congregations that welcome people who are gay or lesbian. The 2005 Churchwide Assembly is expected to make decisions on whether or not the church should develop a policy for the blessing of same-gender relationships and whether or not it should allow people who are gay or lesbian and living in committed relationships to serve as ordained and lay ministers. Currently the ELCA has no policy on the blessing of same-gender relationships -- though the church's bishops have advised the church that they do not approve of such ceremonies -- and it does not allow people to serve as ministers who engage in sexual relationships outside of marriage. The ELCA defines "marriage as a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman" in its message "Sexuality: Some Common Convictions," adopted in 1996 by the ELCA Church Council. CCLM 'Surprised' by Synod Council Action "We were surprised by the Oct. 29 decision," said Kalke in an interview with the ELCA News Service. "We never thought our congregational ID number would be removed, and I didn't think my call would be revoked. We didn't expect that kind of harsh decision." The ELCA's Constitution does not require a bishop or synod council to take disciplinary action for failure to adhere to policies of the church, Kalke said. "It says the bishop 'may' take action, and this harsh action we can only believe was punitive." A CCLM news release said the synod council action was "completely out of line" with what other ELCA synods have done in similar situations. In some cases, bishops have written to congregations admonishing or censuring them for violating the governing documents of the church and have prevented them for participating in certain synod activities. However, one ELCA official told the ELCA News Service that is not the only response from synods when congregations have violated official church policy. "By action of synod councils, certain congregations in various synods have been removed from the roster of the ELCA for calling persons as pastors who are not on the roster of ordained ministers, or who have resigned or been removed from the [clergy] roster," said the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary. "While local circumstances may differ, the Central City Lutheran Mission decision of the Pacifica Synod Council is not unique," he said. CCLM was formed in 1996 when five congregations in the San Bernardino area banded together to start a mission to serve people living in one of the city's most impoverished areas. Kalke described CCLM as a mission that combines Word and Sacrament ministry with human services. CCLM offers services in education, health and housing. It serves people with HIV/AIDS and homeless people, offers worship in Spanish and English, and it provides worship that appeals to a "hip hop" generation, Kalke said. He said CCLM has enjoyed support from many of the synod's congregations, including financial and material gifts. The synod and several ELCA churchwide units, including the ELCA Division for Outreach, have provided financial support to CCLM. Asked why the ministry would violate church policy to call Mason in the midst of such an active community ministry, Kalke said: "We called her because we needed an associate pastor. We needed a person who was culturally competent." CCLM asked the synod to provide candidates for the call, but it did not offer anyone, Kalke said, so CCLM hired Mason first as a staff person before it called and installed her as an associate pastor. "We didn't expect a catastrophe," Kalke said of the synod action in response. "We expected a ripple." Finck said the synod did offer to CCLM two candidates for consideration, but, because neither candidate apparently met CCLM's expectations, both possibilities were turned down. Mason served for 10 years as an officially recognized Lutheran pastor and missionary in Chile, the Times said. She resigned in 2001 when the church learned of her long-term relationship with another woman, the newspaper said. Among the board and staff of CCLM there is an overwhelming feeling of "sadness," Kalke said. "We will move forward," Kalke said, and the ministry will continue to offer services and pastoral leadership. It will continue to be recognized as a social ministry organization, "a relationship with the ELCA we value very much," he said. CCLM is also a member of Lutheran Services in America, a national organization that serves local social ministry organizations. Finck emphasized that the leadership of the synod resolved in its Oct. 29 action that "the Pacifica Synod Council and the bishop will pray for and seek ways to rebuild the relationship between CCLM and the synod, and extend invitations for further dialogue and understanding, healing and reconciliation." --- The Pacifica Synod maintains a site at http://www.pacificasynod.org on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news