ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 15, 2003 ELCA Leaders and Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation Leaders Meet 03-CWA-32-JB MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) clergy standards and the church's Studies on Sexuality were topics of discussion in an Aug. 13 meeting of leaders of the ELCA churchwide organization and the Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation (The Alliance). The meeting was requested by leaders of The Alliance, which encompasses several organizations involved in advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Lutherans. It was held here in conjunction with the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. There are about 2,100 people participating, including 1,031 voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: For the Healing of the World." In the ELCA, clergy who are heterosexual and homosexual are expected to refrain from sexual relations outside marriage of a man and woman. The church also has no official policy on the blessing of same-sex relationships, though its Conference of Bishops, an advisory body to the church, said it does not approve of such ceremonies. The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly asked the church for a study on homosexuality that would address questions about ordination of clergy who are gay and lesbian and in committed homosexual relationships, and whether or not the church should have a policy on the blessing of same-sex relationships. A progress report is to be presented to this assembly Aug. 15; a final report with possible recommendations is to be presented to the 2005 assembly. The 2001 assembly also asked for a social statement on human sexuality, expected to be developed by 2007. Some ELCA synods have asked the 2003 Churchwide Assembly to delay the final report with recommendations until 2007, so that the social statement could be available first. "We oppose delay," said Jeff Johnson, Berkeley, Calif., president of the Extraordinary Candidacy Project, an organization of The Alliance. "It is safe to say that we are invested in the study process. We see it as the end of a policy of oppression." Johnson said many have great hopes for the outcome(s) of the studies on sexuality, but while the four-year process unfolds, "this policy is still an active, intimidating animal." The policy "destroys and intimidates" people, he said. Several of The Alliance representatives said they would like to see current ELCA policy on clergy behavior suspended while the study progresses. Some pointed out that they know of instances where ELCA clergy behavior standards are being violated, and the policy is not necessarily being enforced. "Once the policy is changed, and it will change soon, we want to be able to trust that people in the church will abide by that policy and not ignore it," Johnson said. The Rev. James M. Childs, director of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality, said the studies' task force is focused on the 2001 assembly mandates and will work to fulfill those requests with as much integrity as possible. Suspending policies during the study process will put people whose views agree with current policy "on the defensive," he said. "What would that say to people who aren't ready for change?" Childs asked. "Staying the course [with the studies] makes a lot of sense to me." While the study process unfolds, the ELCA policy continues to damage people, said Mari Irvin, co-chair of Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries (LLGM), San Francisco. "It is a tremendous violation to the integrity of a person," she said. Having a policy in place that is sometimes violated with no consequences suggests the church seems to be living in "two different ethical worlds," a situation she called "problematic." Emily Eastwood, Minneapolis, representing the organization Reconciled in Christ, said she is concerned that during the study process, people "on the other side" are becoming agitated with the issues and in some cases have begun "outing" pastors who may be in homosexual relationships to their bishops. Greg Egertson, LLGM co-chair, said it is odd for him to seek pastoral care from the church whose institutional policy is creating problems for gay and lesbian people. "The pastoral care that needs to happen is the policy needs to be changed," he said. Jeannine Janson, co-chair of Lutherans Concerned/North America, Chicago, asked the ELCA leaders if they understood that the ELCA policy forces people into deception. Johnson summarized the conversation, saying that many in the gay and lesbian community fear that the study is prolonging a period of "endless study." "You must make manifest the reality of the policy," Johnson said. "No one wants to enforce this policy. We all know this." Childs disagreed. While he acknowledged there may be people who don't approve of the policy, "there are also a lot of people who like the policy and want it enforced and don't like it when it isn't." Many within the ELCA are seeking help with Scripture in relation to questions about homosexuality, said the Rev. Stanley N. Olson, executive director, ELCA Division for Ministry. "That is why I think we need this study and why we need a high enough level of anxiety to be engaged in conversation," he said. "Frankly, I think the Episcopalians helped us." Earlier this month, the Episcopal Church confirmed the election of a bishop who is living in a committed homosexual relationship. That process resulted in enormous news coverage on many issues related to gay and lesbian people. The studies and related questions are about the ELCA policy, Olson added. "I think it would be a worse step if we suspend the policy in the interim," he said. Some Alliance members said they hoped the studies would communicate to the church how the policy has affected people and their lives. Such a proposal may be raised through a voting member to the assembly, Eastwood said. She also suggested there could be "listening events" throughout the church at which gay and lesbian pastors, and people whose same-sex relationships have been blessed by a pastor, can talk to people in a safe setting. The sexuality studies will attempt to address how the policy has affected people "in brief form," Olson said. At the conclusion of their meeting leaders of The Alliance and ELCA agreed they were open to possibly meet again in the near future. Organizations of The Alliance may make a formal request to meet with ELCA leaders in Chicago. Those who attended the Aug. 13 meeting for the ELCA were Joanne Chadwick, executive director, ELCA Commission for Women; Childs; the Rev. Richard A. Magnus, executive director, ELCA Division for Outreach; Olson; and the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA Department for Communication. Representatives of the ELCA News Service and The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA, were also present. Attending for The Alliance were Eastwood; Egertson; Anita Hill, St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Paul, Minn.; the Rev. Katherine Hellier, Lutheran Network for Inclusive Vision, Portland, Ore.; Irvin; Janson; Johnson; Laura Montgomery Rutt, Soulforce communication director; Steven Webster, Soulforce; Karen Weldin, Soulforce operations director. -- -- -- Information about the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.elca.org/assembly/03 on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news