ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 15, 2003 ELCA Assembly Receives Report on Church's Studies on Sexuality 03-CWA-38-MR MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received a progress report on the church's Studies on Sexuality. The Rev. James M. Childs Jr., director of the studies, delivered the report. 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 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: For the Healing of the World." The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly asked the church to enter into a process of study on homosexuality. That assembly requested a progress report on the studies for presentation to the 2003 assembly and a final report with recommendations for presentation to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. The 2001 assembly also asked the ELCA Division for Church in Society to prepare a social statement on human sexuality. Current ELCA policy expects ministers to refrain from all sexual relations outside marriage. Since the church has no official policy on blessing same-gender relationships, this precludes homosexuals in relationships from ordained ministry. The ELCA Conference of Bishops, an advisory body to the church, stated it does not approve of such ceremonies. Childs works closely with the church's Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality. The task force was assembled by the ELCA Division for Ministry and Division for Church in Society in May 2002. It assists the divisions in developing study materials, recommendations and proposals regarding the assembly mandates. The first of the study materials was distributed in 2002. It was based on "A Message on Sexuality: Some Common Convictions" which the ELCA Church Council adopted in 1996. In his report to the assembly, Childs said the final draft of the second study guide, "Journey Together Faithfully Part II: The Church and Homosexuality" is being printed. The guide will be mailed to professional church leaders in September, and a Spanish-text version of the study will be prepared, he said. The study booklet is "rich in the discussion of the Bible" and "how we read it as Lutherans, how it speaks to us in the matters before us. The first two sessions are devoted almost entirely to biblical concerns," Childs said. "A background paper on biblical interpretations will accompany the study document and has been written by two of our finest Bible professors, who despite their different views on the subject, have set an example of working together to provide a helpful, in-depth discussion of how different interpreters have been working on the relevant text," he said. Childs said other sessions in the study guide will examine the traditions of the church's teachings; the "diverse views and experiences among us;" a reflection on sin, grace and moral deliberations; and the contributions and limits of scientific research on sexual orientation. Childs said the task force has "painstakingly" sought to be fair and accurate in presenting the different voices and views within our church. "In each session, we highlight a basic theme of our faith -- baptism, our membership in the communion of saints, our Eucharistic fellowship, our center in justification by faith, our baptism vocation and moral deliberation and our call to gospel mission. We want constantly to remember the identity and community we have together in Christ," he said. "These themes of our faith underlie our call to an inclusive dialogue of mutual respect among equals in Christian community that is commended by the study and for which guidance and resources are provided. It reminds us that as we struggle with questions regarding the blessing of gay and lesbian unions and the rostering of persons in such committed unions that we do so from the standpoint of our church's publically stated welcome to all people," Childs told the assembly. "No one of us on the task force is unaware of the daunting nature of the task that this church has set before itself. Nonetheless, we are urging in the most urgent way, that you be agents and leaders for promoting the broadest possible participation," he said. Childs said the task force is committed to being of "one mind in being a servant of the church." He added that response forms, located in the study booklet, will provide the task force with the "foundation for the report and recommendations we are charged to bring to the 2005 Assembly. This is your chance to shape the future discussion of our church, and we will be waiting for your contributions." After Childs' report, the Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England Synod, Worcester, Mass., shared with the assembly her "joy" in serving as chair of the task force. The two primary sources of Payne's joy is the task force's ability to share responsibilities and the "holy listening" that is received and given. She said the second source is the "new hope" that has surfaced in the beginning months of the task force's work. "This will not be a matter that divides our church, but instead will be a discussion that will strengthen our church and prepare us for many more difficult discussions and moral deliberations that surely are in the years to come," Payne told the assembly. -- -- -- Information about the 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