2003 Synod Assembly

A Conversation Among Sisters and Brothers in Christ on Homosexuality and the Church

Added 7:45 p.m., Friday, May 2, 2003

The voting members of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly gathered in small groups today for conversations about what many perceive as a potentially church-dividing issue: homosexuality. The ELCA Churchwide office has recommended that voting members of all synod assemblies talk about homosexuality this year using a process designed by the Moravian Church. These conversations are part of a Churchwide study on the issue of whether to bless same-gender unions and the ordination of homosexuals in committed relationships.

The discussions are intended to help people with various viewpoints come together and share their beliefs, experiences and struggles in a positive and mutually helpful way. Voting members can use this process as a model for talking about difficult issues in their congregations.

The voting members of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly were divided into 75 groups of approximately 7-8 people led by a facilitator. The facilitator’s role was to explain the process, keep the time, and ensure that the discussion followed the guidelines. The ground rules for conversation asked the members to be respectful and observe confidentiality. The sessions began and ended in prayer.

After introductions and prayer, the facilitator gave each person the opportunity to share their life experiences in relation to the issue of homosexuality. Responses could focus on the importance of the issue, one’s person history with the issue, or how one got interested in the issue. Participants were free to share as much or as little as they desired.

Then the facilitator asked the group members to express what they believed to be the heart of the matter for them as Christians. They were asked to describe what is essential for them in any discussion of homosexuality in the church.

In a more open-ended part of the conversation, the group was asked to share some gray areas in the issue, dilemmas about their beliefs, or even conflicts within themselves. This part of the process identifies places of uncertainty, value conflicts, and mixed feelings.

Reactions from a sampling of conversations indicated that people found the process valuable. One participant was overheard saying that he never thought he would be able to talk about homosexuality, but was pleased that he could do so.

One final goal of the discussions was to pass along a response form to the ELCA Task Force on Sexuality. Facilitators were asked to evaluate the nature of the conversation, identify the top three matters that occupied the greatest amount of time, and note any dilemmas or areas of confusion that arose. The ELCA Churchwide Assembly will receive a report from the Task Force this year and has requested a recommendation based on their work at the assembly in 2005.

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