Lutheran (ELCA) Ping!
Posted on 02/13/2007 7:54:38 PM PST by lightman
New England Synod Council and their Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Understanding promulgate a resolution on and a rite for blessing same-gender committed relationships
The New England Synod has promulgated to their congregations a Synod Council resolution regarding the blessing of same-gender, committed relationships, including a rite of blessing. The resolution and guidelines were developed by that synod's Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Understanding and the Synod Council. Bishop Margaret Payne of the New England Synod chaired the ELCA Studies on Sexuality Task Force that brought recommendations to the ELCA Church Council prior to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.
Emily Eastwood, Executive Director of Lutherans Concerned / North America, said "We applaud this timely, thoughtful, and bold action by the New England Synod which now serves as a witness to other synods and the church at large. The recommendation of the basics of a rite of blessing as well as the desire to collect resources as services of blessing are performed moves the conversation away from the general to the concrete. Our congratulations to the New England Synod Council and to the synod's Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Understanding. We hope that this resolution will serve as a model for resolutions in other synods wishing to move forward with a rite of blessing."
The resolution and guidelines are reproduced here:
Guidance for Pastors and Congregations of the New England Synod, ELCA Regarding the Blessing of Unions of Same-Sex Couples
A Statement by the Synod Council of the New England Synod, ELCA
Whereas, we discern the Holy Spirit's work in the 2005 Churchwide Assembly as: 1) affirming that current disagreements on homosexuality are between people of faith seeking to live in faithful obedience to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ and the call of the Holy Spirit, 2) leading the church to live together amidst disagreements, 3) inviting continued communication, openness, and understanding among all members of this church, and 4) reaffirming the 1993 Statement by the Conference of Bishops that affirmed pastors and congregations in ministry with gay and lesbian persons in "their desire to explore the best ways to provide pastoral care for all to whom they minister;" and
Whereas, three states within the New England Synod have legally defined relationships between same-sex persons (Civil Unions in Connecticut and Vermont; Marriage in Massachusetts) and many in our congregations are entering into these relationships; and
Whereas, baptized gay and lesbian persons of our church desire to make public their promises of love and fidelity, seek to invite God into their relationships to help in the fulfillment of their promises, and long for the blessing of their church communities and the fullness of the prayers, encouragement, and consolation that these communities of faith provide; and Whereas, many congregations in our synod count as leaders and valued members gay and lesbian persons in committed relationships and yearn to respond to same-sex couples who are entering into legally recognized relationships, seeking to make public affirmation of their vows, invite God into their relationships, and ask for the blessing and support of their church families;
Therefore, to support pastors and congregations of the New England Synod desiring to provide pastoral care to same-sex couples seeking the blessing of their unions and the support of their faith communities for the promises made to each other, we offer the following guidance and resources:
1. We define "Blessing the Unions of Same-Sex couples" as a prayerful invoking of God's care, mercy, and presence upon a couple to the strengthening of their lifelong promises of love and fidelity.
2. Such a Blessing can occur in either private or public settings. The couple may desire a private setting where only the pastor and perhaps a few others are present to offer a prayer of blessing, or they may choose to have the Blessing be part of a public service of worship.
3. Essential Elements of a Service of Blessing: 1. A mutual exchange of lifelong promises of love and fidelity, or an affirmation of promises previously exchanged in a civil ceremony. 2. An invocation of the Triune God to be present in the strengthening and the fulfillment of the promises exchanged. 3. A prayer of blessing offered by the pastor and congregation (when a public blessing is desired) and a pledge to support the couple in the fulfillment of their promises.
4. Preparation for the Blessing. We encourage: 1. consultation between pastors and congregational councils prior to the first occasion for the Service of Blessing for the union of a same-sex couple in order to determine congregational policy for such blessings. 2. prayerful and intentional preparation by the couple with the pastor before a blessing. 3. the demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) in the life of the couple.
5. Resources In consultation with the New England Synod Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Understanding, the New England Synod Resource Center invites submissions and will maintain copies of various forms of private and public Services of Blessing for unions of same-sex couples that have been used in this Synod and elsewhere. These forms will represent a variety of options that are available to pastors and couples in the planning of a Service of Blessing.
6. A suggested outline for a public Service of Blessing We offer the following outline as a faithful foundation from which to develop a public Service of Blessing: 1. Gathering – Entrance, Greeting, Introduction, Declaration of Intention, Prayer of the Day 2. Word – Readings, Responses, Sermon, Hymn of the Day 3. Exchange of Promises – Promises, Exchange of Rings, Prayers of Blessing, Intercessions 4. Meal – Holy Communion (optional) 5. Sending – Blessings, Dismissal, Departure
7. Additional Guidance for various settings: 1. Setting A: Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and New York At present, there is no legal recognition of monogamous, committed same-sex relationships in these states. Same-sex couples in these states may still seek a Service of Blessing upon their relationship.
What happens in a blessing in this setting? A same-sex couple stands before a pastor or pastor and congregation to make promises of lifelong love and fidelity. The pastor or pastor and congregation both invite God's blessing upon the promises and the couple, and extend their own blessing to the couple through their prayers, support, and pledge to help the couple honor their promises.
2. Setting B: Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont: Blessing previously solemnized Civil Marriages / Unions. Monogamous and committed same-sex relationships are legally recognized in these states. A couple is married or joined in a civil union in a civil ceremony, and then seeks a blessing by the pastor or pastor and congregation.
What happens? A same-sex couple enters into a Civil Marriage or Union and does so by an agent of the state. The couple then comes before a pastor or before a pastor and congregation to affirm and make public their promises of lifelong love and fidelity. The pastor or pastor and congregation both invites God's blessing upon the promises and the couple, and extends their own blessing to the couple through their prayers, support, and pledge to help the couple honor their promises.
3. Setting C: Massachusetts – Same-Sex Marriages Solemnized in the Church. Some same-sex couples in Massachusetts may desire to have their marriage solemnized in a setting of public worship in an ELCA congregation. Because the ELCA currently recognizes marriages between a man and a woman, ELCA pastors are to refrain from solemnizing a same-sex marriage, but may host and participate in such a service.
What happens? A same-sex couple stands before the presiding and assisting pastors or pastors and congregation to make public promises of lifelong love and fidelity. The pastors or pastors and congregation both invite God's blessing upon the promises and the couple, and extend their own blessing to the couple through their prayers, support, and pledge to help the couple honor their promises. Someone other than the ELCA pastor solemnizes the marriage.
4. Setting D: Connecticut and Vermont – Solemnizing Civil Unions Same-sex couples in these states may seek their pastor to solemnize their Civil Union in either a private setting or during a public setting of worship.
What happens? A same-sex couple stands before a pastor or before a pastor and congregation to make public their promises of lifelong love and fidelity. The pastor or pastor and congregation both invite God's blessing upon the promises and the couple, and extend their own blessing to the couple through their prayers, support, and pledge to help the couple honor their promises. The pastor then acts as an agent of the state to solemnize the Civil Union.
Exurge, Domine!
By way of comparison, here's the comment of +Met. Methodios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitinate of Boston, which includes virtually all of New England, on the Massachusetts SJC legalizing "gay marriage":
"The Massachusetts Supreme Court decision announced today that only full equal marriage rights for gay couples—rather than civil unions—would be constitutional, marks yet another in a continuing series of decisions which threaten the moral foundations of this nation. I call upon men and women of all Faiths, especially Orthodox Christians living in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to raise their voices in protest of this despicable decision. The time has come for all of us to " boldly speak the word of God's truth."
The time has come to stop trying to be "politically correct and courteous."
The principles upon which this nation was founded have been trampled upon by those who have come out of the closet and into our living rooms. It is sad to note that men and women of faith are expected to remain silent while the Ten Commandments are removed from our courts and other public places while the rights of those who would promote prostitution in our streets are protected. What's next? I urge all faithful Orthodox Christians in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to support those members of the executive and legislative bodies of government who are working to save what is left of the American family.
+ Metropolitan METHODIOS
This is the reason why I left the ELCA.
Feminism has destroyed the ELCA, and other protestant
mainline churches. Feminism knows no bounds on anything.
The ELCA has thrown its soul in the fires of damnation.
It's sad how the ELCA is more interested in answering to unbelievers than answering to God.
Metropolitan Methodios is right! It is time to stop being politically correct!!!!
We Lutherans should listen to our mother (the Orthodox Church)!!!!
"... a resolution on and a rite for blessing same-gender committed relationships."
Subtract the element of sex, it's called friendship, which needs neither rite of blessing nor resolution. It's all about elevating sexual weirdness to normalcy, and repudiate that bothersome sixth Commandment.
One no longer needs to soil one's mind, heart, and spirit by reading the LCNA website to find out about this. WordAlone has a write-up of the New England Synod resolution (with a link to the resolution itself) at:
http://wordalone.org/nr/orlando-revisited.shtml
Note the following statement on the WorldAlone website:
"The irony of these actions in New England and Atlanta is that they run counter to the ELCA's professed desire to be an ecumenical church," said Chavez. "These actions will further cut off the ELCA from most other Lutheran churches in the world not to mention most Christian churches in the world--the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican Communion and all evangelical churches."
I'm sure that Metropolitan Methodios would give the radical pseudo-bishop of the New England Synod a good--and well-deserved--toungue-lashing if he got a chance!!!! But there are other synods, especially in California, which have been much more visibly radical.
Any who are feeling a bit of despair about the future of Lutheran orthodoxy should take a look and read the posts by some of the finest conservatives of the ELCA and LCMS.
Time to switch to the Missouri Synod, apparently!
I did in 2005 and am very glad that I did.
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