Joy : Pastoral Response to ELCA Sexuality Issues

Community Church of Joy
Response to the ELCA's Resolution 2007 Churchwide Assembly
Regarding Same-Sex Sexual Relationships

4/20/08 from
Dr. Walt Kallestad, Senior Pastor
Dr. Paul Sorensen, Lead Pastor

Background Information

The 2005 Orlando ELCA Churchwide Assembly passed a resolution to "continue to respect the guidance of the 1993 statement of the Conference of Bishops" regarding the blessing of homosexual relationships. The text of this 1993 Bishops' Statement states, "There is basis neither in Scripture nor tradition for the establishment of an official ceremony by this church for the blessing of a homosexual relationship. We, therefore, do not approve such a ceremony as an official action of this church's ministry.” Former bishop Kenneth Sauer, the Chairperson of the Conference of Bishops at the time of the adoption of the statement in 1993, distinctly recalls the purpose of the statement as being to refuse to approve any ceremony that would appear to give public approval by the ELCA to same-sex unions; and any ceremony approved by an ELCA synod or congregation is an official action of this church's ministry.

The full text of the 1993 bishops' statement is:
We, as the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, recognize that there is basis neither in Scripture nor tradition for the establishment of an official ceremony by this church for the blessing of a homosexual relationship. We, therefore, do not approve such a ceremony as an official action of this church's ministry. Nevertheless, we express trust in and will continue dialogue with those pastors and congregations who are in ministry with gay and lesbian persons, and affirm their desire to explore the best ways to provide pastoral care for all to whom they minister.

Recommendation One on Sexuality approved at 2005 churchwide assembly:
RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-its members, congregations, synods, churchwide organization, and agencies and institutions-be urged to concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements, recognizing the God-given mission and communion that we share as members of the body of Christ.

Recommendation Two on Sexuality approved at 2005 churchwide assembly:
RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America continue to respect the guidance of the 1993 statement of the Conference of Bishops; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this church welcome gay and lesbian persons into its life (as stated in Churchwide Assembly resolutions from 1991, 1995, and 1999), and trust pastors and congregations to discern ways to provide faithful pastoral care for all to whom they minister.

At the 2007 ELCA churchwide assembly, the assembly voted to request that synods and bishops refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining people and congregations that call those in same-gender relationships.

Preliminary Minutes from the 2007 ELCA churchwide assembly:
The Churchwide Assembly made no changes to ELCA standards for professional leaders, declining proposals that suggested specific policy changes. By a vote of 538 to 431, the assembly asked its synods and bishops to “refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining” people and congregations that call otherwise-qualified candidates in mutual, chaste and faithful committed
same-gender relationships, and it called for restraint in disciplining rostered leaders in committed same-gender relationships. The proposal was adopted as a substitute for a recommendation of the Memorials Committee.

Following the decision, Hanson said, “These are words of counsel. They are not words that change the standards of the church. They reflect the mind of this assembly as it seeks to give counsel to the leaders of this church.”

Issues raised by this latest action of the ELCA churchwide assembly:

Integrity. This recommendation essentially undermines the established ELCA policy in an underhanded fashion. What value is the current policy if there is no accountability? This approach creates distrust among congregations and members of the ELCA.
Erosion of the current policy. This signifies a move by leaders of the ELCA toward changing of the 1993 policy.
Disregard of the Holy Scriptures. This recommended action cannot be supported by and is contrary to God's Word.

Our beliefs about homosexuality

We affirm as Lutherans that the Word of God is our authority for all matters of life and faith. We believe God's Word is clear about this issue of homosexuality.
We understand as Lutherans that God’s grace comes to us through both Law and Gospel. God’s Law has been given to all people to set healthy boundaries around our relationships and behaviors; and there are consequences for breaking this Law. The Law also drives us to Jesus Christ for our help and salvation. The Gospel of Jesus Christ—undeserved and freely given through the death and resurrection of Jesus—saves us and sets us free from our sin.
Close relationships between persons of the same gender are a gift from God and can be sustained under God’s blessing but need not be of a sexual nature. Same gender sexual attraction is a perversion of the gift God has given us of healthy relationships with others.
The temptation toward same-gender attraction calls for understanding and compassion by all Christians, but this does not mean that this is an acceptable practice. This is a temptation toward a behavior that is unhealthy and contrary to God’s will.
The practice of same-gender sexual relationships is clearly in contradiction to God’s Word and the beliefs and practices of the Christian tradition for the past 2000 years. There is no question that the Bible sets a boundary around this behavior as wrong.
The way through this temptation and sin is through the process of repentance and healing that flows from the gracious forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
We will continue to minister to all people at Joy, regardless of their lifestyle choices, unless these choices create an unsafe environment for others in the community (e.g., sexual predators, child abusers, etc.)
We believe that the vote taken at the 2007 churchwide assembly does not represent the consensus view of this issue among the majority of the people of the ELCA. Therefore, we believe that the leadership of the ELCA has taken a turn away from the authority of God’s Word and away from the grass-roots authority that is granted them through local congregations and their members. The church-wide leaders of the ELCA need to be called back to their responsibility to the people of the ELCA rather than one particular interest group. If they refuse to do so, the people of the ELCA need to reclaim their authority and right to be fairly represented by the churchwide leaders of the ELCA.
If the ELCA refuses to maintain its current policy (as represented by the vote of the 2009 churchwide assembly), congregations like CCOJ will prayerfully need to seek other affiliations consistent with God’s Word and the mission and values that God has given us.
We do not believe that it is in the best interest of this process to pull back from our current involvement and benevolence commitment to the ELCA, for two primary reasons: a) doing so will alienate us from the ELCA leadership at the national and synodical levels, thus reducing any future impact we could have with these leaders and other pastors of the ELCA; and b) it violates our value that as long as we are members of this body, we need to support it, even if we do not agree with some of its actions, just as we would not think it right for our church members to pull back their financial support for CCOJ every time they disagreed with a decision of our board or pastors.

Steps taken thus far by the CCOJ Board of Directors

Prayer
Pastor Walt met with Bishop Hansen to express his/our displeasure over the recent move in the 2007 churchwide assembly.
Pastor Walt delivered a letter from the CCOJ Board to Bishop Hansen, expressing our deep concern over the action taken by the 2007 churchwide assembly.
Pastor Walt conversed with several pastors of key large ELCA congregations and explored their perspectives and strategies to deal with this issue.