Posted on: August 21, 2009
After another extended plenary session, the 11th Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approved two final resolutions on Friday afternoon that open their church’s rostered clergy rolls to men and women in same-sex relationships.
The session began on a softer tone after a worship and lunch break. Speaking in favor of the change, Larry Christensen of the Southeastern Iowa Synod said, “I read my Bible. I'm not in favor of sin.” He cited Jesus’ warning about judging others: “He asked that we apply the law ruthlessly to ourselves, and grace to others.”
“We want to be understood,” said Pastor John Stendahl of the New England Synod, who also favored the resolutions. “We want to stop insulting each other. We need curiosity about each other.”
Wayne Jacobson of the Northeastern Iowa Synod held a small Bible in his hand as he spoke about scripture’s authority. “It's more than a book faith,” he said, referring to a program emphasis of the ELCA. “It’s a book of life.” God’s word stands forever, he said, adding that “a majority vote by an assembly, or a gathering of human beings, is not going to change that.”
The resolution passed on a vote of 559-451.
The fourth and final resolution enabled the church’s leadership to develop “structured flexibility” that reflects the church’s new standards regarding clergy in same-sex couples. That resolution passed on a vote of 667-307.
After the vote, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson spoke with a quiet intensity and cited passages of scripture for three different types of Lutherans gathered in the Minneapolis Convention Center. For conservatives who grieved the week’s voting, he cited Romans 8, in which Paul asks what can separate Christians from the love of God. For gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Lutherans, he cited Ephesians 2, with its emphasis on becoming one in Christ. For Lutherans concerned about church unity, he cited Colossians 3, which urges Christians to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bishop Hanson closed his remarks by repeating a statement he made during a report earlier in the week: “We meet one another finally, not in our agreements or our disagreements, but at the foot of the cross.”
The URL for this story is:
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2009/8/21/elca-oks-partnered-gay-clergy
Send web site comments to: WebMaster@churchoftheword.net