Title: ELCA Bishops: Prayer and Encouragement for Gay Members
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 25, 1996
ELCA BISHOPS: PRAYER AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR GAY MEMBERS (69 lines)
96-016-020-AH
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America said, "The way we face our differences on the
issues surrounding homosexuality can be an important expression
of grace for our particular church body and for the communities
in which we live." The Conference of Bishops issued a letter
March 22 in response to a call from the 1995 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly for "words of prayer and pastoral concern and
encouragement" for the church's gay and lesbian members and their
families.
While responding to this specific request, the bishops'
letter is addressed to the whole church. Despite the "pain" of
"sharp disagreement on some issues," the letter assures gay and
lesbian members, "...we walk beside you and we value your gifts
and commitment to the church."
The bishops asked all ELCA members to "join us in repentance
for hurtful actions toward others, and in forgiving when we have
been the objects of anger or hate." The letter acknowledges,
"the debates and controversy surrounding homosexuality sometimes
have turned bitter. We have not always followed our Lord's
instruction to avoid being angry or insulting to one another" and
to reconcile promptly.
At its Feb. 29-March 5 meeting the Conference of Bishops
discussed a first draft of the letter, presented by its
Theological and Ethical Concerns Committee.
The Rev. Charles H. Maahs, chair of the Conference of
Bishops, said in an interview, "We hope our letter provides an
opportunity for our congregations and communities to end a
painful chapter in our life together. It is our hope and prayer
as bishops that the words of grace this letter extends will set a
new tone and direction for dialoge, reconcilation and renewal as
we seek to reach out to God's people with the gospel of Jesus
Christ." Maahs is bishop of the ELCA's Central States Synod,
based in Shawnee Mission, Kans.
The letter draws attention to a 1991 assembly action that
declared, "Gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God,
are welcome to participate fully in the life of the
congregations" of the ELCA. The 1993 assembly extended that
message to express "strong opposition to all forms of verbal or
physical harassment or assault of persons because of their sexual
orientation" and support for the civil rights of all people,
regardless of sexual orientation.
These actions, the bishops said, "remind us that our
congregations should reflect our Lord's invitation to all by
being safe places for those who are persecuted or harassed in our
society." The letter goes on, "We repudiate all words and acts
of hatred toward gay and lesbian persons in our congregations and
in our communities, and extend a caring welcome for gay and
lesbian persons and their families. We call upon all our
pastors, as they exercise pastoral care, to be sensitive to the
gifts and needs of gay and lesbian members."
The letter concludes with an invitation to gay and lesbian
persons "to join with other members of this church in mutual
prayer and study of the issues that still divide us, so that we
may seek the truth together." The letter was sent to all 65
synodical bishops for them to distribute to the congregations of
their synods.
In a related action the board of the ELCA Division for
Church in Society asked its executive director, the Rev. Charles
S. Miller, to write letters to the Democratic and Republican
political parties "informing them of the ELCA's opposition to all
forms of verbal or physical harassment or assault of persons
because of their sexual orientation." The board's March 8 action
came in response to complaints about "negative campaign rhetoric"
associated with national elections.
For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955;
Lia Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956
