Last night the Assembly voted -- closely, as vote counts go, to approve the new statement on Human Sexuality. The vote required to pass was 2/3. The vote count was exactly -- and I mean exactly -- 2/3. So it passed.
Which means that our statement is now the official teaching of the ELCA. There is much in that statement in which I rejoice -- we rightly condemn sexual exploitation and sexual abuse; we condemn sexual promiscuity and caution against cohabitation (that section's a little weak in my estimation). By-in-large it's good, but the sections on dealing with GLBT people take us in a new direction, which you know I find problematic. It does counsel those folks to be in life-long, monogamous, committed relationships, and that, at least, is positive (as in, there ARE boundaries)
Right now we are in the midst of an extended discussion on the proposed changes in ministry "rostering" -- and how that would be ordered in our church. Since those questions require only a 50% vote plus one, I'm assuming that they will, in some form, pass, which means our church will be rostering pastors, AIMS, deaconesses, etc, who are openly/actively gay and lesbian. It doesn't look like anyone -- individual, congregation, or bishop -- will be compelled to agree or to act on these items, but it will be the teaching and the practice of our larger church.
The conversations we're engaging in is painful indeed. PLEASE keep us in prayer in these days.
More on last night's TORNADO striking our building later (Really!) We're fine, but it was interesting.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
More from Minneapolis
It's a full day in Minneapolis. We run 8 am to 8 pm on the agenda.
We began this morning with the Presiding Bishop's (Mark Hanson) report, which was delivered orally. Hanson is a master at public speaking (I was there in 2001 in Indiannapolis when he was first elected, and it was clearly his ability to hold and sway a crowd that caused his election.) He rightly called us to love the Lord, to be his people, to be God's hands in the world (it's our ELCA biennial theme: God's work. Our hands.) But when he began calling us to political agendas I got antsy ............ like, "We need to work with our legislators and pass Obama's immigration bill." He spoke eloquently of our need as a church that is 97% white to allow the Lutherans-of-color among us and around the world to speak up and offer leadership. (Step aside, he said). But I'm concerned that we are about to pass a Statement on Human Sexuality and authorize the ordination of partnered lesbians and gays, as well as bless gay and lesbian unions ---- and those things have been roundly deplored by many people of color in this counttry and we've heard from Lutherans in Asia and Africa that those things will cause a break in our fellowship with them. So I'm concerned that Bishop Hanson and this Assembly want it both ways, and that's not possible.
Anyway, one bright spot this afternoon was our approving the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, which is a joint effort with Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, our ELCA, the Lutheran World Federation, and the UN Foundation, to focus work on eliminating as much malaria as we can in Africa in the next decade. It's good to see us working jointly on an issue that effects so many people worldwide; it's a start! In the US, the ancillary organization, "Nothing but Nets" (they get donations for mosquito nets for people in malaria-prone areas), is supported by the National Basketball Association and by humanitarians like Bono (of U-2) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. So funding, begun with a 2.8 million dollar grant from the UN Foundation, should be enough to begin.............. and we'll be seeking donations from members and congregations beginning next year. This all comes under the ELCA's World Hunger Appeal umbrella, where we also deal with HIV/AIDS help for Africa.
We had open conversation about the Human Sexuality Statement for over an hour. And this afternoon and evening we are breaking up into groups for hearings on:
2010 and 2011 Budgets
Book of Faith ( Bible literacy movement)
Evangelizing Congregations
the Lutheran Malaria Initiative
our Middle East Strategy
the Recommendations on Ministry (gay/lesbian stuff)
the Social Statement on Human Sexuality
the proposed Full Communion agreement with the United Methodists
Board of Pension updates
World Hunger/ Disaster Response report
HIV/AIDS work in Africa
We each get to go to 2 ......................... I'll fill you in tonight about what I've learned.
Lots of wonderful people here .............. I must admit I love Lutherans! We sing so well together! Just keep those prayers coming so I don't lose hope for our common future!
Teaser: some insight into our Bishop in my next blog!
Blessings to all!
We began this morning with the Presiding Bishop's (Mark Hanson) report, which was delivered orally. Hanson is a master at public speaking (I was there in 2001 in Indiannapolis when he was first elected, and it was clearly his ability to hold and sway a crowd that caused his election.) He rightly called us to love the Lord, to be his people, to be God's hands in the world (it's our ELCA biennial theme: God's work. Our hands.) But when he began calling us to political agendas I got antsy ............ like, "We need to work with our legislators and pass Obama's immigration bill." He spoke eloquently of our need as a church that is 97% white to allow the Lutherans-of-color among us and around the world to speak up and offer leadership. (Step aside, he said). But I'm concerned that we are about to pass a Statement on Human Sexuality and authorize the ordination of partnered lesbians and gays, as well as bless gay and lesbian unions ---- and those things have been roundly deplored by many people of color in this counttry and we've heard from Lutherans in Asia and Africa that those things will cause a break in our fellowship with them. So I'm concerned that Bishop Hanson and this Assembly want it both ways, and that's not possible.
Anyway, one bright spot this afternoon was our approving the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, which is a joint effort with Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, our ELCA, the Lutheran World Federation, and the UN Foundation, to focus work on eliminating as much malaria as we can in Africa in the next decade. It's good to see us working jointly on an issue that effects so many people worldwide; it's a start! In the US, the ancillary organization, "Nothing but Nets" (they get donations for mosquito nets for people in malaria-prone areas), is supported by the National Basketball Association and by humanitarians like Bono (of U-2) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. So funding, begun with a 2.8 million dollar grant from the UN Foundation, should be enough to begin.............. and we'll be seeking donations from members and congregations beginning next year. This all comes under the ELCA's World Hunger Appeal umbrella, where we also deal with HIV/AIDS help for Africa.
We had open conversation about the Human Sexuality Statement for over an hour. And this afternoon and evening we are breaking up into groups for hearings on:
2010 and 2011 Budgets
Book of Faith ( Bible literacy movement)
Evangelizing Congregations
the Lutheran Malaria Initiative
our Middle East Strategy
the Recommendations on Ministry (gay/lesbian stuff)
the Social Statement on Human Sexuality
the proposed Full Communion agreement with the United Methodists
Board of Pension updates
World Hunger/ Disaster Response report
HIV/AIDS work in Africa
We each get to go to 2 ......................... I'll fill you in tonight about what I've learned.
Lots of wonderful people here .............. I must admit I love Lutherans! We sing so well together! Just keep those prayers coming so I don't lose hope for our common future!
Teaser: some insight into our Bishop in my next blog!
Blessings to all!
First Report : on the first, critcal vote in remaining traditional
Last night the Assembly rejected a vote to require a two-thirds majority to change our ELCA ministry standards (those standards currently reject the ordination and service of actively partnered gay and lesbian pastors). The effect of that is that it will now only take a 50% majority plus one vote to change our church's rosters and permit the ordination of partnered gays and lesbians.
The vote to reject the higher standard of vote (2/3, not 50%) was 584 - 436.
That's really indicative of where the voting members of this Assembly stand on this issue ..........
and I assume that the change of our ministry standards to incude active gays will pass by about the same margain.
Which puts me, our Synod, and our traditional congregation in the minority in the ELCA.
More later today on this issue and on what all is going on here. Trust me, it's fascinating. Not always comfortable, but fascinating.
Now that I've found the email center at the Assembly, I can get here and share with you more of what is being said and decided.
Later, gator.
The vote to reject the higher standard of vote (2/3, not 50%) was 584 - 436.
That's really indicative of where the voting members of this Assembly stand on this issue ..........
and I assume that the change of our ministry standards to incude active gays will pass by about the same margain.
Which puts me, our Synod, and our traditional congregation in the minority in the ELCA.
More later today on this issue and on what all is going on here. Trust me, it's fascinating. Not always comfortable, but fascinating.
Now that I've found the email center at the Assembly, I can get here and share with you more of what is being said and decided.
Later, gator.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Ready. Set. Pray. Go.
Liz is safely in Minneapolis, scouting out the city for us both. I've been reading more of the prep materials. And been thinking of the decisions that are coming.
I'm praying. Please you do too.
I'm praying. Please you do too.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Preparing for Churchwide Assembly
It's more than laundry and packing, of course. Well, it's that, too, but it's also more. Reading through the pre-Assembly reports, hundreds of pages of them. Trying to discern what will be important to know. Reading through the Assembly agenda and trying to figure out what will be discussed (and voted on) when.
And emailing people who are coming to Minneapolis to find out what they're thinking and planning. That's been interesting!
I'm excited to be going, to be part of this Assembly, anxious to add my prayers, my words, my votes to the process. And I'm excited to be sharing the week with a roommate whom I not only know but also love (and indeed gave birth to ........... how often does THAT happen!?) Liz and I are planning on working, praying, playing, and worshipping together. That will keep me grounded!
Lots to finish before I leave early Monday morning -- September planning, a couple of more pieces for the September newsletter, phone calls to members, food planning for Mike's week of batching it.
God, Father and protector, be with us all as we prepare and travel and come together as your church. Keep our minds open to your leading, our hearts turned toward your truth, our words a witness with your gentleness and grace and power. In Jesus' name.
And emailing people who are coming to Minneapolis to find out what they're thinking and planning. That's been interesting!
I'm excited to be going, to be part of this Assembly, anxious to add my prayers, my words, my votes to the process. And I'm excited to be sharing the week with a roommate whom I not only know but also love (and indeed gave birth to ........... how often does THAT happen!?) Liz and I are planning on working, praying, playing, and worshipping together. That will keep me grounded!
Lots to finish before I leave early Monday morning -- September planning, a couple of more pieces for the September newsletter, phone calls to members, food planning for Mike's week of batching it.
God, Father and protector, be with us all as we prepare and travel and come together as your church. Keep our minds open to your leading, our hearts turned toward your truth, our words a witness with your gentleness and grace and power. In Jesus' name.
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