Lutheran (ELCA) Ping!
Posted on 07/24/2007 8:52:00 PM PDT by lightman
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 1,071 voting members of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly meeting here at Navy Pier next month will be asked to respond to 125 memorials summarized in a 74-page assembly report. Memorials are requests from the church's 65 synods asking for action by the assembly on specific topics. The churchwide assembly, which meets every two years, is the ELCA's chief legislative authority. Voting members, staff, visitors and media will meet Aug. 6-11 in Chicago, where the ELCA churchwide organization is based.
A Memorials Committee, appointed by the ELCA Church Council, the church's board of directors, met here June 29-30. The committee categorized the memorials and drafted proposals for the assembly to consider. Norma J. Hirsch, Des Moines, Iowa, and the Rev. Kenneth M. Ruppar, Richmond, Va., both members of the Church Council, are co-chairs of the committee.
Hirsch and Ruppar said the Memorials Committee saw its role as helping to organize the synod memorials and present recommendations to the Churchwide Assembly to facilitate discussion and decision-making by the voting members. Both said the committee proposed discussion on memorials that voting members were likely to want to address specifically, such as matters related to sexuality and the Iraq war.
"We took very seriously the role we had to help facilitate the work of the assembly," Ruppar said.
"We hope that we put the memorials forward in a way that makes their (voting members') work more effective and efficient," Hirsch said.
Seven categories of memorials recommended for assembly discussion
The committee categorized all of the memorials and recommended seven specific categories for discussion by Churchwide Assembly voting members: support for congregations assisting returning military veterans; criminal justice; Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Iraq war; blessing of same-sex relationships; standards for professional leaders; and referrals to the task force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality (about half of the 125 memorials addressed topics and issues related to homosexuality, standards for sexual conduct of ordained ministers, same-sex relationship blessings and discipline):
+ Assisting returning veterans: The ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod asked the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly "to encourage all congregations of this church to support returning military personnel and their families." The Memorials Committee recommended that the Churchwide Assembly urge the ELCA to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for returning military personnel, and it recommended that the ELCA Conference of Bishops and ELCA Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries explore ways that the ELCA "might effectively provide healing ministries to military veterans and their families."
+ Criminal justice: Three synods asked the Churchwide Assembly to ask ELCA Church in Society to prepare a social statement on criminal justice; two also asked that the social statement address prevention programs for at-risk families and youth, and inmate restoration. The Memorials Committee recommended that the assembly direct the ELCA Church in Society program unit to develop the social statement for possible consideration at the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
+ Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Three synods adopted similar memorials asking the Churchwide Assembly to support efforts for a just two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that members recommit and financially support the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine, which the ELCA adopted in 2005. Three other synods offered memorials on related topics. The Memorials Committee recommended the Churchwide Assembly acknowledge the churchwide strategy and called on the ELCA to recommit to the strategy.
+ Iraq war: Six synods addressed memorials to the Churchwide Assembly on the Iraq War, commenting on pre-emptive military strikes, opposing escalation of the war and seeking nonviolent conflict resolution. The Memorials Committee recommended the assembly reaffirm a 2005 Churchwide Assembly resolution, "Opposition to War," oppose any escalation of the Iraq war, and urge the U.S. government to work with the international community to support peacemaking and nation-building operations in Iraq. It also recommended the assembly urge members to pray for peace, support armed forces personnel and their families, study ELCA social statements and messages on peace and terrorism, discuss the war and policies of the U.S. government and communicate their views to elected representatives.
+ Blessing of same-sex relationships: Three synods adopted similar memorials discouraging blessing of same-sex relationships, pending decisions to be made at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod asked for liturgies for the blessing of "same-gender unions." The Memorials Committee recommended referring these memorials and a record of the Churchwide Assembly's discussion to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, and urged that "it consider this information in its ongoing discernment and deliberation."
+ Standards for professional leaders: There were 23 memorials in this category. The ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod asked the Churchwide Assembly to remove language from church policy that precludes people who are gay or lesbian and in a homosexual relationship from serving in an official leadership role in the church. The ELCA Northeastern Iowa synod asked the assembly not to change its policy documents for ordained ministers.
Twenty-one synods adopted nearly identical memorials concerning a response to a discipline hearing committee that was formed to consider charges filed by the Rev. Ronald B. Warren, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, Atlanta, against a former ELCA pastor, Bradley E. Schmeling, Atlanta.
The hearing committee agreed with Warren and said Schmeling should be removed from the clergy roster on Aug. 15, 2007. It also criticized church policy regarding sexual conduct for ordained ministers, and suggested that synods call on the churchwide organization to change those policies. Recently, the ELCA Committee on Appeals upheld the original decision but reversed the date Schmeling was to be removed from the roster, making it effective July 2. It also said the discipline hearing committee exceeded the authority granted to it by the ELCA constitution when it suggested there be changes in ELCA clergy policies.
In general these 21 synod memorials would direct specific churchwide units to develop amendments to ELCA clergy standards, permitting people who are gay or lesbian and in committed homosexual relationships to serve as ordained and professional lay leaders in the church. The memorials also ask for reinstatement of people -- without the current requirement of a five-year waiting period -- who were removed or resigned from the official leadership rosters of the church. The Memorials Committee recommended the Churchwide Assembly refer all of these memorials and the verbatim record of the assembly's discussion about them to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, urging that the task force consider this information in its ongoing discernment and deliberation.
+ Referrals to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality: Four synods adopted similar memorials asking the Churchwide Assembly to refer all memorials and resolutions regarding blessings of same-sex unions and ordination of people who are gay or lesbian and in committed relationships to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality. Four synods called for the church to wait until the 2009 Churchwide Assembly to re-open the ordination question; three other synods asked that the Churchwide Assembly not consider any policy changes, or asked that proposals for policy change be forwarded to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality as it prepares to present a social statement on human sexuality for consideration at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.
The Memorials Committee recommended that all of these memorials and the verbatim record of the Churchwide Assembly's discussion be forwarded to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality and urged that the task force consider this information in its ongoing discernment and deliberation.
Other synod memorials addressed topics such as ministry funding, global climate change, HIV and AIDS, genocide in Darfur, immigration, hunger, health care, Lutheran-Muslim dialogue, the purpose of the church and reparative therapy. The Memorials Committee proposed that most of its recommendations on these and other memorials be approved "en bloc," in which responses are adopted in one action. Proposed responses for some memorials call for referral to a unit of the churchwide organization or legislative body for study and possible action.
Also recommended for en bloc action are similar memorials from 14 synods encouraging the church to refrain from disciplining candidates for professional leadership in the church and those already serving, who are gay or lesbian and in a committed same-sex relationship. The Memorials Committee recommended that these memorials be referred to the ELCA Conference of Bishops, since responsibility for most disciplinary matters in the ELCA resides with synod bishops. The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the ELCA consisting of the church's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary.
Voting members may ask that memorials recommended for en bloc action be removed for discussion by the assembly.
--- Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the ELCA Web site.
The Memorials Committee report to the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is linked at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/votingmatters/ on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
To rule and govern your holy catholic Church,
to guide all servants of your Church in the love of your Word and in holiness of life,
to put an end to all schisms and causes of offense to those who would believe,
and to bring into the way of truth all those who have gone astray.
We implore you to hear us, good Lord.
Ping.
The ELCA pro-gay lobby group Lutherans Concerned-North America /www.lcna-org boasts that these 21 Synods contain 40% of the membership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Their hope is that 509 (50% plus one) of the Voting Members of this Churchwide Assembly will decide to thumb their noses at Lutheran bodies in Africa and raise their middle fingers toward Rome and Contantinople as they vote to set aside 2000+ years of Christian sexual ethics for the ethos of modern hedonism.
One wonders what type of counseling veterans and their families will receive at these "healing ministries".
Here is the “public” counterattack from “Lutherans Concerned” (http://www.lcna.org) to the attempt of the Memorials Committee to postpone action on the “gay resolutions” beyond the 2007 CWA.
Meanwhile, in “private”, the “gay” lobby—especially the “friends of Pastor Brad”—are sending letter after letter after CD to all “voting members”. (They’re almost certainly funded by filthy New World Order money.)
Remember, the vast majority of “voting members” are first-timers with little theological knowledge. Many are basically KNOW-NOTHINGS, made dumb by years of ELCA mis-education. They don’t know beans about Constantinople, or Rome, and perhaps not even Canterbury. The way that CWAs are conducted is all based on heretical theories about the Holy Spirit and how HE (not “it” as in the ELCA) works, as is the “modified ecclesiastical ballot” that will be used to elect the presiding bishop. If they had those theories at Nicea and Constantinople for the first few Ecumenical Councils, we would all be bowing to Makkah today.
It’s time to pray!!!!
______
July 24, 2007
LC/NA opposes referral of Goodsoil memorials – delay unacceptable
In a report released today, the Memorials Committee of the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly has recommended that the Goodsoil memorial passed by 21 synods directing elimination of the policies prohibiting rostered leaders in same-gender relationships be referred to the task force working on the social statement on sexuality as information. Similarly the same committee has recommended that Goodsoil memorials passed by additional synods calling the church to refrain from and to use restraint in discipline of partnered LGBT clergy be referred to the Conference of Bishops as information.
Memorials are motions passed by synod assemblies which request that the ELCA in Churchwide Assembly take certain actions. The 14-member Memorials Committee is appointed by the ELCA Church Council and is made up of voting members to the Churchwide Assembly, some of whom are council members. Meetings of the committee are open in the same way that meetings of the ELCA Church Council and the ELCA Churchwide Assemblies are open.
The Committee is convened following the conclusion of the synod assembly season to categorize the memorials passed by synods and then make recommendations on them to the Churchwide Assembly. Staff members from the Office of the Presiding Bishop, the Office of the Secretary, and, in matters related to standards for rostered leaders, the Vocation and Education unit bring their recommendations to the Memorials Committee for debate and vote. Majority rules. There is no minority report.
Emily Eastwood, Executive Director of Lutherans Concerned / North America, said, “A committee of 14 people, has made a recommendation to the Churchwide Assembly that the wishes of 24 synods be put aside until we have passed a Social Statement on Sexuality. Such delay was defeated already five years ago at the 2003 Churchwide Assembly. How interesting that the policy of discrimination was put in place in 1989 without an ELCA Social Statement on Sexuality.
“With the recent removal of Pastor Bradley Schmeling from the clergy roster and a growing trend among Lutheran LGBT clergy to be open about their families, referral and delay are simply unacceptable.
“The Memorials Committee recommendations are only that, recommendations. It will be up to a simple majority of the voting members at the Churchwide Assembly, all 1000+ of them, to decide what happens in 2007 to the wishes of the synods which have called for the end of discrimination against LGBT clergy.”
Goodsoil will be working hard with our Voting Member allies to persuade the Assembly that referral is not proper way to handle these memorials and that the time is now for the Assembly to vote on eliminating the flawed policies. All supportive Voting Members are encouraged to register at Goodsoil.org so that our coordinated efforts may bear fruit.
The 2007 Churchwide Assembly will take place August 6–11 in Chicago. Visit www.goodsoil.org and www.lcna.org for additional information.
The ELCA has NOTHING to do with advancing the word of God or the salvation of souls. It is all about advancing a godless, anti-American, homosexual, Democrat/Socialist/Communist political agenda.
Creeping liberalism is destroying our country.
The Word Alone www.wordalone.org network has also been doing a fine job of highlighting some of these issues through frequently mailings to every ELCA congregation. The challenge is to get those mailings past the paid congregation staff.
You forgot the feminazi agenda. It was the feminazis who made all other godless agendas in the ELCA (and other lameline church bodies) possible, and they still do today.
Just found this gem on alpb.org. Time for some Scotch!
CHICAGO: Same-sex salvation
BY SUSAN HOGAN/ALBACH
Religion Reporter/shogan@suntimes.com
Chicago Sun Times
July 25, 2007
The Lutheran pastor soon to be bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod wants his denomination to lift a celibacy requirement for gay and lesbian clergy.
“That’s where I think the church is going,” Bishop-elect Wayne Miller of Aurora said. “That’s where I think it needs to go.”
He’s hoping the change will come next month in Chicago, where the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is conducting its churchwide assembly. Nearly a third of the denomination’s 65 synods are asking for a policy shift in clergy standards.
WHERE THE FAITHS STAND
Catholics: The church, which only ordains celibate men, says homosexuality is “intrinsically disordered,” but that it is not a sin to have a “homosexual orientation.”
Episcopal Church (U.S.): Supportive of gay clergy, including a bishop in a same-sex relationship, which put the denomination at odds with some in the worldwide Anglican communion.
Presbyterians (U.S.): Clergy are required to live either in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.”
United Church of Christ: Not only supports gay clergy, but endorses same-sex marriage.
United Methodist: Because homosexuality is considered “incompatible” with Christian teaching, “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” aren’t ordained.
Judaism: More liberal branches allow for gay and lesbian rabbis.
Islam: Imams aren’t ordained and homosexuality is considered immoral. Eventually, gay and lesbian clergy in monogamous, same-sex relationships could be allowed to serve.
John Roberts of Chicago also hopes it could lead to the reinstatement of gay clergy removed from ministry. He says he was ousted as pastor of a Michigan church in the 1990s after he confided to his bishop that he was gay.
“He gave me 11 days to leave the parish and not tell anyone,” the 58-year-old Roberts said. “I still feel that call to pastoral ministry.”
With 4.8 million baptized members, the ELCA, with headquarters in Chicago, is the nation’s seventh-largest denomination. The Metropolitan Chicago Synod includes 217 congregations in Cook, DuPage, Kane and Lake counties.
Homosexuality is a long-debated issue at mainline church conventions. The ELCA opted for a middle-of-the-road path allowing for gay clergy who are celibate. Heterosexual clergy can be married.
A gay pastor from Atlanta was recently removed from the ELCA clergy roster because he was in a non-celibate committed relationship. Some synods, such as Chicago, have tried not to force the issue.
“Some of the churches with the most growth in this synod are led by gay pastors in committed relationships,” said Bishop Paul Landahl, 69, who has led the Metropolitan Chicago Synod since 2001.
Landahl said he approaches the issue pastorally and with compassion.
“I have a daughter [who is in] a same-sex committed relationship,” he said. “It’s been part of my life. To see her connected to a church that’s kind of slammed the door on gay and lesbian people is a miracle in and of itself.”
More than 1,000 voting church members are expected at the Aug. 6-11 assembly at Navy Pier.
Miller, 57, will begin his six-year term as bishop on Sept. 1. He’ll be formally installed Sept. 9 at the downtown Episcopal cathedral because it can accommodate the sizable turnout expected.
If the rules for gay clergy aren’t relaxed, Miller acknowledges that he’ll feel tension between his personal beliefs and his vows as bishop to uphold the policies of the church.
“That is the dilemma of a bishop at this particular moment in history,” he said.
Thank you. You are certainly correct. The problem is that some of these “Lutheran” groups that want to take a step away from the ELCA still want to ordain women.
Is there such a thing as sin to these people? What is it?
"Intolerence" and "judgementalism", usually but not always coupled with the epithet "homophobia".
And those violate what commandments?
LOL
I've always thought of those as obedience to Ezekiel 33!
For daily reports on the ELCA Assembly from a traditional perspective, pop some popcorn and go to http://www.alpb.org/forum
I do have a question for you. How much money was spent, let us say in the last year, on the “Sexuality Study?” Now, how much was spent on missions in Tanzania, Russia, China or even right here in the US?
Also, the “sheeple” do have a choice — all they have to do is designate where their money goes. Perhaps instead of writing off an entire church body you should consider educating those people you consider sheep (interesting, Jesus is coming to take the sheep with him)
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