March 7, 2005

 

TO:                 ELCA Church Council

FROM:           The Rev. Paul W. Baumgartner, Secretary, ELCA-Southeastern Synod

RE:                 Response to “Report and Recommendations from the Task Force for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Studies on Sexuality”

CC:                 The Rev. Ronald B. Warren, Bishop, ELCA-Southeastern Synod

 

PROCESS FOR PREPARING RESPONSE

 

At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Synod Council, January 14-15, 2005 the “Report and Recommendations from the Task Force for Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Studies on Sexuality” was discussed and a process was outlined for a possible response from the Synod Council to the ELCA Church Council.  It was decided that a letter would be sent to all Southeastern Synod congregations and rostered leaders requesting that their responses to the report be sent to the Synod Secretary by February 15 for consideration by the Synod Council.  A meeting of the Executive Committee was scheduled for February 24 to propose some options, based on the responses received from congregations and rosters leaders, for how the Synod Council might respond to the report.  The Synod Council would then meet on March 1 to determine whether a response from the Synod Council to the ELCA Church Council was in order.

 

The Executive Committee met on February 24 to consider the solicited responses from rostered leaders and congregations of the Southeastern Synod regarding the “Report and Recommendations from the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality.”

 

21 responses were received and distributed to the Synod Council.  13 were from individuals and 8 were from congregations.  Of the 13 individual responses 8 were from lay persons and 5 were from rostered persons.  Two individual responses were received from Alabama, 9 from Georgia, 0 from Mississippi, 1 from Tennessee, and 1 of unknown location.  Of the 8 congregational responses 2 were from Alabama, 3 from Georgia, 0 from Mississippi, and 3 from Tennessee.

 

The responses indicated that this continues to be a divisive issue on whatever level it is considered.  There is no clear consensus on any of the major issues.  Recommendation #3 was the most troublesome mainly because of the confusion of a policy with an exception.  It was frequently noted that the current policy should remain as it is.  Respondents were more comfortable with recommendations #1 and #2.  The general issue of homosexuality/scripture was raised a number of times.

 

The Executive Committee agreed that the best way of describing the two sides of this debate is with the terms “Traditional view” and “Change view.”  It was clarified that the Synod Council is not obligated to make a response concerning the “Report and Recommendations” to the ELCA Church Council.

 

The Executive Committee felt the first question to be put to the Synod Council should regard the desired outcome:  Do we want to send a sense of where the SES Council is to the ELCA Council or a single resolution approved by vote of the Synod Council?  The Executive Committee saw six possible positions the Council and/or individual Council members might take:

1.      To affirm the work of the Task Force and its recommendations as printed in “Report and Recommendations” for consideration by the Churchwide Assembly.

2.      To affirm the work of the Task Force and recommend that the ELCA Church Council receive the information as a historical document and that the ELCA Council not send any resolution concerning these matters to the Churchwide Assembly for consideration.

3.      To affirm the work of the Task Force while expressing strong concerns regarding the recommendations, and in particular the potential for confusion and disruption inherent in recommendation #3.

4.      Do nothing.

5.      To affirm the work of the Task Force but recommend that the Churchwide Assembly affirm the present ELCA policies as set forth in “Visions and Expectations” and “Guidelines for Discipline.”  

6.      Any Synod Council member unable to make a decision at this time

      retains the privilege of abstaining from voting.

 

In consideration of these options:

*   3 Executive Committee members preferred option #2

*   2 Executive Committee members preferred option #3

*   2 Executive Committee members preferred option #5

*   No Executive Committee member thought option #4 was a good option

(7 Executive Committee members were present and eligible to vote)

 

The Synod Council met on March 1 and reviewed the discussions of the Executive Committee. The initial discussion indicated that a unanimous decision would not be forthcoming and so the Synod Council voted to send a tally of Synod Council members’ votes on the options offered by the Executive Committee.  Before voting however, 2 other options were expressed for consideration:

7.      To affirm the work of the Task Force and recommend the ordination of gay and lesbian persons in committed same-sex relationships and the blessing of same-sex unions.

8.      None of the above.

 

 

RESPONSE OF SOUTHEASTERN SYNOD COUNCIL

 

There were 18 members of the Synod Council present and they voted as follows:

 

  1. To affirm the work of the Task Force and its recommendations as printed in “Report and Recommendations” for consideration by the Churchwide Assembly.  [1 member voted for option #1]
  2. To affirm the work of the Task Force and recommend that the ELCA Church Council receive the information as a historical document and that the ELCA Council not send any resolution concerning these matters to the Churchwide Assembly for consideration.  [0 members voted for option #2]
  3. To affirm the work of the Task Force while expressing strong concerns regarding the recommendations, and in particular the potential for confusion and disruption inherent in recommendation #3.  [9 members voted for option #3]
  4. Do nothing.  [0 members voted for option #4]
  5. To affirm the work of the Task Force but recommend that the Churchwide Assembly affirm the present ELCA policies as set forth in “Visions and Expectations” and “Guidelines for Discipline.”   [6 members voted for option #5]
  6. Any Synod Council member unable to make a decision at this time

retains the privilege of abstaining from voting.  [0 members voted for option #6]

7.      To affirm the work of the Task Force and recommend the ordination of gay and lesbian persons in committed same-sex relationships and the blessing of same-sex unions.  [1 member voted for option #7]

8.      None of the above.  [1 member voted for option #8]