The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted today to open the ministry of the church to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships.
The action came by a vote of 559-451 at the highest legislative body of the 4.6 million member denomination. Earlier the assembly also approved a resolution committing the church to find ways for congregations that choose to do so to "recognize, support and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same gender relationships," though the resolution did not use the word "marriage."
The actions here change the church's policy, which previously allowed people who are gay and lesbian into the ordained ministry only if they remained celibate.
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Watch video of Bishop Mark Hanson's Pastoral Remarks
Showing posts with label ELCA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ELCA. Show all posts
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
VIDEO CONTEST - Vote for our video!!!!
Temple Lutheran Church has entered a video contest! Please watch our video highlighting the "God's Global Barnyard" project. Be sure to give us a "10 star" rating by pointing at the stars until all 10 are yellow. You will need to register at www.godsworkourhands.org to participate and vote.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
ELCA Task Force Releases Human Sexuality Social Statement & Recommendations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 15-member Task Force for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Studies on Sexuality released Feb. 19 "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" -- a proposed social statement on human sexuality. The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly -- the chief legislative body of the church -- is expected to consider the social statement for adoption as an official statement Aug. 17-23 in Minneapolis.
The proposed statement addresses a spectrum of concerns relevant to human sexuality from a Lutheran perspective. It responds to the question: "How do we understand humansexuality within the context of Jesus' invitation to love God and love our neighbor?" If adopted by the assembly, the social statement will assist the ELCA in its moral deliberation, govern its institutional policies and guide the church's public advocacy work.
While the document does not offer once-and-for-all answers to contemporary questions about sexuality, it "seeks to tap the deep roots of Scripture and the Lutheran theological tradition" for Lutherans to discern what is "responsible and faithful action," according to the proposed statement. Despite the varying viewpoints, the church encourages all people to live out their faith with "profound respect for the conscience-bound belief of the neighbor," said the proposed statement. The document calls on congregations to be safe places for children and youth, and it calls for education on human sexuality for children and youth.
"Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" completes a directive from the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to develop a social statement on human sexuality.
The task force also released a "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly regarding the professional leadership of the church on Feb. 19. This document completes a directive from the 2007 assembly to addressand make recommendations on changes to policies that preclude Lutherans in committed, same-gender relationships from the ELCA's professional rosters.
The task force recommended that a process begin with the churchwide assembly, "declaring its intention about what it wants to do," according to the report. It proposed four steps to be taken consecutively. If the assembly agrees to the first, then the second, third and fourth would be considered only if the preceding steps have been approved.
The first step asks the assembly whether it is committed "to finding ways to allow congregations and synods that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships," said the report.
The second step asks the assembly whether it is committed to finding a way for Lutherans in committed, same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA professional leaders -- clergy, associates in ministry, diaconal ministers and deaconesses.
If steps one and two are accepted, step three asks the assembly to commit to implementing steps one and two "in such away that all this church bear the burdens of the other, love the neighbor, and respect the bound conscience of any with whom theydisagree." According to the report, "decisions about policy that serve only the interests of one or another group will not be acceptable."
Step four presents a proposal for how the ELCA could move toward change "in a way that respects the bound conscience of all," said the report. The fourth step is different from the previous steps in that it is "not simply a commitment in principle, but makes a specific recommendation for flexibility within existing structures and practices of this church to allow for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to be approved" for professional service inthe ELCA, stated the report.
The proposed social statement and the report and recommendation on ministry policies are two separate documents. They are open to review by the ELCA Church Council – the church's board of directors -- and will be considered by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" and "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" are available at http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney on the ELCA Web site.
The proposed statement addresses a spectrum of concerns relevant to human sexuality from a Lutheran perspective. It responds to the question: "How do we understand humansexuality within the context of Jesus' invitation to love God and love our neighbor?" If adopted by the assembly, the social statement will assist the ELCA in its moral deliberation, govern its institutional policies and guide the church's public advocacy work.
While the document does not offer once-and-for-all answers to contemporary questions about sexuality, it "seeks to tap the deep roots of Scripture and the Lutheran theological tradition" for Lutherans to discern what is "responsible and faithful action," according to the proposed statement. Despite the varying viewpoints, the church encourages all people to live out their faith with "profound respect for the conscience-bound belief of the neighbor," said the proposed statement. The document calls on congregations to be safe places for children and youth, and it calls for education on human sexuality for children and youth.
"Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" completes a directive from the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to develop a social statement on human sexuality.
The task force also released a "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly regarding the professional leadership of the church on Feb. 19. This document completes a directive from the 2007 assembly to addressand make recommendations on changes to policies that preclude Lutherans in committed, same-gender relationships from the ELCA's professional rosters.
The task force recommended that a process begin with the churchwide assembly, "declaring its intention about what it wants to do," according to the report. It proposed four steps to be taken consecutively. If the assembly agrees to the first, then the second, third and fourth would be considered only if the preceding steps have been approved.
The first step asks the assembly whether it is committed "to finding ways to allow congregations and synods that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships," said the report.
The second step asks the assembly whether it is committed to finding a way for Lutherans in committed, same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA professional leaders -- clergy, associates in ministry, diaconal ministers and deaconesses.
If steps one and two are accepted, step three asks the assembly to commit to implementing steps one and two "in such away that all this church bear the burdens of the other, love the neighbor, and respect the bound conscience of any with whom theydisagree." According to the report, "decisions about policy that serve only the interests of one or another group will not be acceptable."
Step four presents a proposal for how the ELCA could move toward change "in a way that respects the bound conscience of all," said the report. The fourth step is different from the previous steps in that it is "not simply a commitment in principle, but makes a specific recommendation for flexibility within existing structures and practices of this church to allow for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to be approved" for professional service inthe ELCA, stated the report.
The proposed social statement and the report and recommendation on ministry policies are two separate documents. They are open to review by the ELCA Church Council – the church's board of directors -- and will be considered by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" and "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies" are available at http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney on the ELCA Web site.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Christmas Message from Presiding Bishop of the ELCA
Presiding Bishop of the ELCA Mark Hanson delivers his Christmas Message:
Friday, November 21, 2008
Temple Lutheran Had A Barn...E - I - E - I - OOOO!!
Help us fill up God’s Global barnyard with chicks and pigs and goats and fish and turkeys and cows!
The children's Sunday School is launcing a Service Project in support of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal that will purchase animals in order to give them as gifts that will help break the cycle of poverty and hunger in the world. Gifts of animals not only provide a source of food, but can help create a source of income for a family or community oppressed by extreme poverty. To hear stories about the impact of this project, click here.
The Sunday school project runs from November 23, 2008 to January 18, 2009.
The children's Sunday School is launcing a Service Project in support of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal that will purchase animals in order to give them as gifts that will help break the cycle of poverty and hunger in the world. Gifts of animals not only provide a source of food, but can help create a source of income for a family or community oppressed by extreme poverty. To hear stories about the impact of this project, click here.
The Sunday school project runs from November 23, 2008 to January 18, 2009.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
ELCA Bishop Releases Statement on Election
November 5, 2008
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson’s Statement on 2008 Presidential Election
Americans have chosen a new president in an historic election. I congratulate Senator Obama on his election to our nation’s highest office, and express gratitude to Senator McCain for his continuing commitment to public service. I commend both for participating in our nation’s democratic process, which serves our venerable tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.
We look to the future as a nation troubled by economic crisis and continuing wars. Such complex realities call for both humility and ingenuity. In the midst of these challenges, we as Lutherans also look to the future as a community of faith and a people of hope. We bring to the public square a longstanding and effective commitment to serve our neighbors and a conviction that government is instrumental in God’s purpose for humanity when public officials work for justice, peace, order and the common good.
Scripture is clear about what should matter to us as Christians in public life: hospitality to strangers, concern for people in poverty, peacemaking and care for creation. From these core biblical values, I appeal to President-elect Obama to establish the following priorities for his administration:
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson’s Statement on 2008 Presidential Election
Americans have chosen a new president in an historic election. I congratulate Senator Obama on his election to our nation’s highest office, and express gratitude to Senator McCain for his continuing commitment to public service. I commend both for participating in our nation’s democratic process, which serves our venerable tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.
We look to the future as a nation troubled by economic crisis and continuing wars. Such complex realities call for both humility and ingenuity. In the midst of these challenges, we as Lutherans also look to the future as a community of faith and a people of hope. We bring to the public square a longstanding and effective commitment to serve our neighbors and a conviction that government is instrumental in God’s purpose for humanity when public officials work for justice, peace, order and the common good.
Scripture is clear about what should matter to us as Christians in public life: hospitality to strangers, concern for people in poverty, peacemaking and care for creation. From these core biblical values, I appeal to President-elect Obama to establish the following priorities for his administration:
- a response to the current economic crisis with special focus on low-income people
- a robust diplomatic effort to restore U.S. credibility abroad
- a fulfillment of the promised U.S. funding share of the Millennium Development Goals
- strong support for alternative energy research to end our dependence on oil and establish a new green economy
- fair and humane immigration reform
- serious re-engagement with a peace process for Palestinians and Israelis
I call on all members of this church to join me in committing to work with this new administration across the broad spectrum of our Lutheran partnerships and networks. Remain active in public service, be in conversation with each other and within your communities on these issues, and engage members of Congress and this administration through this church’s advocacy ministry. Pray for President-elect Obama, Vice President-elect Biden, and their families, and for their work and service on behalf of our country.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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