In Oct. 2013, I emailed ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton, and I asked for her opinion of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly vote that allows ordaining of gays. About three months later, she sent this response: “Dear Mr. Collins,
Thank you for taking time to
write and share your question. Others have also written out of their deep concern for the church’s life and witness and its faithfulness to God. I regret that it has taken this long to reply to your letter.
The adopted ELCA social statement, Human
Sexuality: Gift and Trust, states that there is a widely held view within the ELCA that homosexual sexual relations are always described as sinful by the Scriptures. At the same time, it recognizes that other interpretations of the Scriptures are also deeply held as faith convictions in the ELCA.
My deep conviction
is that we are church first. At the heart of what we do is worship. At the heart of our worship is the crucified and risen Christ. That should be the lens through which we engage in all our work and ministry.
As members of the ELCA, we are called to love our neighbors, respect their convictions and passions, and speak well of one another, even where there is no agreement.
I also have a strong conviction that we have more work to do together in the body of Christ, work that is critical for the life of the world. I believe that we will do it most faithfully and effectively by continuing to join in humility and mutual respect for the witness and service to which God has called us.
May God
richly bless you and your family in the year ahead.
Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Office of the
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
8765 W Higgins Rd.,
Chicago, IL 60631-4101
Phone: 800-638-3522 ext. 2600 or 773-380-2600;
Fax: 773-380-1701
bishop@elca.org
ELCA.org”
I emailed her and said that her answer is so vague that someone, on either side of that issue, could read her response and think that she agrees with them. I said, “Please answer this question by saying yes or no. Do you agree with that 2009 decision?” She said that she agrees with that vote. She also said that she agrees with allowing each church to have the right to not call a gay pastor, if they don’t want to call one.
"Other topics that were discussed:
"Assignment Process – the Bishops are constantly in conversation about revisions to this process to better service this church and its ministry candidates.
"The Placement of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer candidates for ministry. Guests who are part of Proclaim and the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries joined the bishops for conversations about how placement is going across this church and to share best practices as well as concerns."
Hmmm, "revisions" to the pastoral placement process followed hard by "best practices" for selling, -er "placing" GLBTQ pastors, for whom there quite apparently isn't a clamorous demand.