Title: Report About ELCA Policy on Ordained Gay and Lesbian Members Due in
1999
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 20, 1997

REPORT ABOUT ELCA POLICY ON ORDAINED
GAY AND LESBIAN MEMBERS DUE IN 1999
97-CA-52-MR

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- A "status report" on conversations in church
policy and practice on the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian
individuals of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is due by its
next churchwide assembly.  More than 1,000 voting members of the ELCA,
gathered here Aug. 14-20 for the fifth biennial assembly, established the
due date.
     "Voting members made it clear that the church is not yet willing to
propose that the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian persons be
allowed this year," said Sandra G. Gustavson, Athens, Ga.  Members of this
church "want to continue conversations about the issue," she said.
Gustavson, a member of the ELCA Church Council, presented the issue to the
assembly.
     The church's current "expectation" is that "ordained ministers who
are homosexual in self-understanding are expected to abstain from
homosexual sexual relationships."  Practicing homosexual individuals are
"precluded" from the ordained ministry of this church.
     The Rev. Hans O. Andrae, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Jeannette,
Pa., argued that the church's current standards for ministry are "biblical
and confessional" and do not require change.  Other speakers argued that
the ELCA should continue "moral deliberation" and affirmed the need "to
keep this dialogue going."
     Carol Silvoy, Catasauqua, Pa., described many "beautiful people" in
her life who are homosexual, bisexual and trans-gendered, to whom she said,
"Come, meet my God."  She said that it was "unfair" to prohibit clergy who
are homosexual from having a committed relationship.
     The ELCA's Division for Church in Society is assisting the church to
explore models of conversation and moral deliberation on issues related to
human sexuality, including homosexuality.  Members voted to affirm that
work and asked that a status report on the findings from these
conversations be brought to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly.
     "The church needs to discuss, pray and to take a stand, but we need
to come together as a church," said Timothy L. Barr, Rosenberg, Texas.

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html