2005 Synod Assembly

Bishop Margaret Payne Speaks on ELCA Studies on Sexuality

(Live Update added 4:15 p.m., Friday, May 6, 2005)

Bishop Margaret Payne Photo by Pastor Todd Hawkins

The Rev. Margaret G. Payne, bishop of the New England Synod, said she's accepted that she'll probably be remembered as leader of the ELCA's Sexuality Task Force.

But if that's the case, Payne hopes her legacy is one of unity. She said the task force has made recommendations it hopes will unite the ELCA. Congregations must now discuss those recommendations, hearing both similar and opposing views.

"Listening in itself will not solve this problem," she said, "but it will take us to this place where together we can solve this problem."

Payne, who gave the 18th annual Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly's keynote address, said the task force sought to include all views during its deliberations.

She said task force members heard from sociologists, psychiatrists and Lutherans across the nation. Divergent opinions were heard, considered and represented within the task force.

"We are people who range in opinion on this issue from very, very conservative to very, very liberal – and everything in between," Payne said. "If you have an opinion at all on this issue, you can be assured that your opinion was represented by one of the members of this task force."

Payne recalled the first time the Sexuality Task Force met, and how the members sang "Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying." She said at that moment, she knew there was common ground to be found among all members.

Payne said she hopes the ELCA's many members can likewise find common ground as it considers the task force's recommendations this year.

Following the keynote address, Assembly attendants asked Payne about the task force's methods. One person also asked what could happen if the ELCA became divided by the issues the task force considered. Payne, however, replied that she remains convinced that the ELCA will not suffer such division.

"We do not say that these are good people and these are evil people," she said. "We are all both saints and sinners at the same time."

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2005 Assembly photo album