Title: ELCA Human Sexuality Message ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEF October 25, 1996 HUMAN SEXUALITY MESSAGE At its meeting Nov. 8-11 the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will decide either to adopt a proposed "message" on sexuality and distribute it to ELCA congregations or to send it to next summer's Churchwide Assembly for consideration. The ELCA Conference of Bishops advised the council to edit and issue the proposed message "by its own action, rather than submitting it to the 1997 Churchwide Assembly for action." The bishops met Oct. 3-9. The Rev. Charles S. Miller, director of the ELCA's Division for Church in Society, told the bishops the new message is "a minimalist interpretation." Miller said the division's board, which reviewed the document, wanted a message that "sought agreement. It is not introducing differences." The ELCA has been working toward some way to speak to issues of sexuality since 1989. Two drafts of a possible social statement received mostly negative response. In 1995, interpreting action taken by the Churchwide Assembly, the Church Council directed the division to draft a message "on those areas for which there appears to be consensus within this church," A "message" is defined as a "brief communication that draws attention to a social issue." It is not a new policy position of the ELCA but builds upon previously adopted social statements. A message can be adopted by the council, whereas a social statement requires action by the Churchwide Assembly. The Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, bishop of the ELCA's Northeastern Iowa Synod, encouraged the council to issue the sexuality message itself, noting that it "has distributed messages before, such as those on domestic violence and end-of- life decisions." The current proposed message is embargoed until it has been acted upon by the council and distributed to ELCA congregations. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955 or [log in to unmask]