ELCA NEWS SERVICE April 23, 2009 Former ELCA Presiding Bishop Endorses Task Force Documents 09-095-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom, the first presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), endorsed two documents from the Task Force on ELCA Studies on Sexuality. Chilstrom served two terms starting from the church's inception in 1987 to 1995. On Feb. 19 the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality released "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," a proposed social statement for the church. It also released that day a report and recommendation for 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. The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly -- the highest legislative authority of the church -- will consider both documents Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis. "I'm impressed with the work of the task force," Chilstrom wrote in an assessment of the documents. "After some 20 years of wrestling with this complex and potentially divisive issue, I believe they have given us a statement and a (recommendation that) the broad membership of our church can accept." Chilstrom said the phrase "conscience-bound belief" -- a key idea of the proposed social statement and recommendation -- is not a new concept. "In fact, we live with it all the time." Chilstrom cited the example of how a close friend and he have differing conscience-bound beliefs on the legitimacy of the death penalty. "Though we disagree on this specific social issue, our respect for each other keeps us in close friendship. We agree to disagree on the subject," he said. In relation to the "status of homosexual persons in our church," he said, "it is not likely that we will come to consensus on this issue in the near future. But can we disagree in this area without breaking faith and unity with each other? Yes, I believe we can." Lutherans have changed their minds about some conscience-bound stances, Chilstrom wrote. "Churches that once excluded minority persons now openly welcome them. Congregations that once refused to call women as pastors now accept and affirm them. Only a few years ago only persons who had been confirmed could receive the Lord's Supper. Now younger children are encouraged to participate." In the more than 20 years since the ELCA first tried to adopt a statement on human sexuality, "many have also changed their minds regarding the place of homosexual persons in church and society," Chilstrom wrote. But change was not easy, he said. "Long tradition, rooted in our understanding of the Bible, meant that we clung tightly to our convictions. But as we became acquainted with gay and lesbian persons and read literature about the nature of sexual orientation many came to a new understanding of the issues. We changed our minds." In response to the recommendation, Chilstrom said the task force has placed before the church a way to respect varied positions. "I wish everyone in our church were at the same place where we could simply say, 'It is time to include responsible brothers and sisters in Christ in same-gender relationships among the rostered ministries of this church.' That is, for me and many others, our conscience-bound belief," he said. "But I am a realist. Though we have taken some significant steps in the last 20 years, our church is not at the place where we can do more than what is proposed in the recommendation," Chilstrom wrote. "We can no longer go on with the status quo, with one bishop trying to press the literal implications of our current policies and another looking the other way." He said the task force's recommendation provides some of the 65 synod bishops, synods and congregations "the integrity they long for in openly welcoming our talented and deeply committed sisters and brothers into our family of shepherds and servants of the Gospel." - - - The text of former Presiding Bishop Chilstrom's assessment is at http://OT-studies.com on the Web. The task force's "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" and "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" 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