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The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd |
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Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
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A Pastoral Letter in Response |
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Dear friends in Christ,
From August 17-23, 2009, over one thousand voting members gathered for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The assembly, which is the highest legislative authority in our church, considered and acted on over 100 memorials and resolutions, including entering into full communion with the United Methodist Church. The decisions which have received the most attention, however, were those related to the social statement “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust” and four resolutions related to ministry policies, specifically whether or not persons in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships should be allowed to serve as rostered leaders (i.e., clergy and lay professionals) of this church.
The assembly adopted 676-338 -- precisely two-thirds of those voting -- “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust,” the ELCA’s 10th social statement, with minor editorial amendments. It also adopted a series of implementing resolutions with amendments. The full text of the social statement can be found here, or by clicking the link at the bottom of this letter. The assembly also adopted four resolutions related to ministry policies, in the following order:
Resolution 3: “RESOLVED, that in the implementation of any resolutions on ministry policies, the ELCA commit itself to bear one another's burdens, love the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of all." (Adopted 771-230 as amended)
We would commend to your attention ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson’s pastoral letter to all rostered leaders, which can be found here. We would also commend to you Bishop Hanson’s remarks to the assembly following the voting on these resolutions. Video of those remarks can be found here; the full text is available here.
Having followed the ELCA’s discussions of human sexuality for over a decade, we can assure you that these decisions were not taken lightly. People of good conscience, trying very hard to be faithful, disagreed profoundly, but did so out of sincere, deeply-held theological conviction. We do not believe that anyone involved in these deliberations, on either side, took the positions they did out of ignorance or with evil intent. While there has been a great deal of rhetoric since these decisions were made vilifying people on one side or the other in some of the most hurtful terms possible, such discourse is unworthy of those who claim to be servants of Christ and obedient to his Great Commandment. We would all do well to remember Luther’s explanation of the Eighth Commandment:
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. What does this mean?
We are to fear and love God, so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light.” (The Small Catechism, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pg. 1161)
In the aftermath of these decisions, many are speculating about the future of our church. That future remains unclear, but what is clear is that the church belongs to Christ, and its future rests squarely in God’s hands. In Matthew 16, Jesus promises that he will build his church, and that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. For two thousand years, through persecution, disagreement and schism, the Holy Spirit has continued to call, gather, enlighten, bless and sanctify the whole church throughout the world. Through periods of error and periods of faithfulness, the church has endured and grown. Whatever our future holds, we trust that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit will indeed be with us all and will continue to sustain the one holy, catholic and apostolic church.
In closing, it is important to remember what happened at Good Shepherd and in ten thousand other ELCA congregations on Sunday, August 23rd. What happened that Sunday morning is what always happens: Christ was proclaimed the crucified and risen Savior of all. Confession was made, and absolution was granted. Praise and thanksgiving were offered to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God’s holy word of judgment and grace, of law and gospel, of hope and promise was read in the Scriptures and proclaimed from the pulpit. Our faith, the faith of our fathers and mothers, was affirmed in the words of ancient creeds and modern hymns. Prayer was offered and heard, and sacrifice of thanksgiving was made. And we were once again sent into the world to serve the Lord, proclaim the risen Christ, share the good news and remember the poor. Same as always.
Whatever changes the days and months ahead may bring, may we never lose sight of what is the same, and may the Lord bless us and keep us; may the Lord’s face shine upon us and be gracious to us; may the Lord look upon us with favor, and give us peace. Amen.
Your servants in Christ, Pastor Bob & Pastor Kathy
Social Statement “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust” Presiding Bishop Hanson’s Letter to Rostered Leaders Presiding Bishop Hanson’s Pastoral Remarks Video Presiding Bishop Hanson’s Pastoral Remarks Text
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