ELCA NEWS SERVICE October 26, 2009 ELCA Vice President Addresses Dissatisfaction with Assembly Decisions 09-236-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Carlos Peņa, vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), wrote an Oct. 23 letter to the church's 4.6 million members, asking them to consider actions of the ELCA's 2009 Churchwide Assembly "as a catalyst to further strengthen our church and our relationships with each other." Peņa related his experiences of devastation after Hurricane Ike struck his hometown of Galveston, Texas, in September 2008. "One year later, I can see the benefits of this experience," he wrote. "Galveston is coming back stronger than before and welcoming citizens and businesses, both old and new." "I feel as though I have experienced a resurrection. Good things are coming to light out of the chaos and darkness of what seemed like a hopeless situation," Peņa wrote. The assembly adopted a social statement on human sexuality, and it adopted proposals to change ELCA ministry policies, including a change to make it possible for Lutherans in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, clergy, deaconesses and diaconal ministers. Peņa's letter responded to reports of dissatisfaction with the assembly actions from some in the ELCA. Some members have talked about leaving the church, and some say they are thinking of stopping their donations to the church. "I have lived through vast changes and come out better and stronger for it," Peņa wrote. "I know with all my heart that, with diligence and hard work, we can come through this together as a renewed church, boldly proclaiming God's mission for the sake of the world," he said. Peņa reminded ELCA members of the work their dollars do through the church. "Working together, we help alleviate hunger close to home and abroad. Without our help, people around the world would have a harder time recuperating from disasters. They need us and we need each other," he wrote. "I pray for the continuing efforts of the ELCA, my understanding of people different from me, and the future, though sometimes it is hard to predict. And I pray for my fellow Lutherans that they may have the strength to commit and weather the storm," Peņa concluded. The 2009 Churchwide Assembly elected Peņa to a second six-year term as ELCA vice president, the highest office a layperson holds in the church, and he chairs the ELCA Church Council. He is president of two companies in the Galveston and Houston areas. --- The full text of Carlos Peņa's letter is at http://bit.ly/nNgvG 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