ELCA NEWS SERVICE March 19, 2009 ELCA Bishops Continue Response to ELCA Task Force Documents 09-068-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continue to encourage members of their respective synods to become familiar with two documents released by the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality. In February the task force released a proposed social statement on human sexuality. Another report recommends a process to consider changes to ministry policies that could make it possible for Lutherans in committed same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers. Recommendations for both documents will be considered at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the church's chief legislative body, Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis. The Rev. E. Roy Riley, bishop of the ELCA New Jersey Synod, Hamilton Square, encouraged members of the synod to read the documents "for yourself and to yourself, as if the task force is speaking directly to you," not just "jumping to the hot-button issues." In a letter to members of the synod, Riley noted a number of dimensions addressed in the proposed statement. Because sexuality is "complex," Riley said the task force created a broad theological base for teaching. "We experience God's love in the context of a relationship that is faithful and trustworthy," Riley said. "Marriage and families are foundation to community. Protection for the vulnerable, especially children, is central to these core relationships." He said friendships are important to life and come with their own "contemporary pressures, community norms, workplace boundaries and dimensions of sexuality." "There are shared and emerging understandings and perspectives with regard to same-gendered relationships," Riley said. "What is clear to some and not to others is the place of same-gendered relationships vis-a-vis marriage, family, community, church proclamation and liturgical options." "In the presence of strong disagreement among people of deep faith, the task force lifts up respect for the conscience-bound beliefs of others," Riley said. "This social statement that leads us toward serving our neighbor as the first order of business calls us to first respect and protect the conscience- bound position of the one we may have come to believe was our adversary." The Rev. Robert A. Rimbo, bishop, ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod, said the task force's report "takes pains to describe our best understanding of what it means to be related to one another as the family of God. It acknowledges the intimate ways in which human beings are together as offspring, as parents, as couples. In the face of an absolute deluge of sexuality in almost every aspect of life, it holds out themes of trust, grace, fairness, mercy and God, and upholds those themes." Rimbo said the report tries to outline a path for Lutherans to remain "together despite profound disagreement across the spectrum of opinion." "The task force believes that we need to respect our differences and accept the different places in which the baptized find themselves," he said. "The recommendation affirms that our distinctive positions on this issue should not be church- dividing. No congregation or institution will be forced to call a leader they do not wish to call." The ELCA Northwestern Ohio Synod, Findlay, is holding a "Day of Prayer and Reflection" April 23 for "conversation and consolation," said the Rev. Marcus C. Lohrmann, synod bishop. "Throughout my almost 11 years as your bishop, I have been impressed by the capacity of this synod to engage in difficult conversations in a manner that reflects a deep love of our Lord and this church and the desire to speak the truth in love," Lohrmann wrote in a letter to members of the synod. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA Global Mission, are working to identify venues for face-to-face conversations with Lutherans overseas about the task force documents prior to and after the churchwide assembly. The LWF is a global communion of churches representing 68.5 million Lutherans. In a letter to the ELCA's global companions, Hanson and Malpica Padilla wrote, "Your companionship has been a source of strength in our common calling to mission. It is our hope that our relationship continues to grow as we deepen and extend our collaboration and mutual support in God's mission to the world." - - - The task force's report and recommendation on ministry policies and proposed social statement are available at http://www.ELCA.org/faithfuljourney on the ELCA Web site. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog