2005 Synod Assembly

Sexuality Study Information

The following was e-mailed to all Assembly Voters on April 26 (and mailed to those for whom we don't have e-mail addresses on file):

April 27, 2005

To: All Voting Members to the 2005 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly

From: Ms. Shirley Gangstad, Vice President

Grace and peace to you from our Lord, Jesus Christ!

As you know from reading in the Pre-Assembly Report to the upcoming assembly, there are several resolutions referring to The Report of the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality. It has occurred to the Executive Committee that there may be some voting members to the assembly who have not have opportunity to read that report. Also, the ELCA Church Council has now released the resolution that will be sent to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.

On Friday afternoon, we will spend an extended period of time in discussion. Present with us that day will be Bishop Margaret Payne, the chair of the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, and Pastor Joseph Crippen, a member of the ELCA Church Council. A resolution will also be presented to the synod assembly that afternoon calling for a "straw poll" regarding the resolution being sent to the Churchwide Assembly.

On behalf of the Executive Committee, I am asking that you print the files available at the links below and read both the report of the task force and the resolutions from the ELCA Church Council prior to our synod assembly.

If you received multiple copies of this e-mail note, it means your e-mail address is the address on record for other voters from your congregation. Please make copies of these two documents and this memo and give them to those voters. It is our objective to have as much information as possible available to voters prior to the conversations that will take place at the assembly.

Please keep the assembly voters, congregations and synod staff in your prayers as we prepare for this assembly.

Download the task force report: http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/tfreport (a printer-friendly version is also available on this page – it's recommended you read both the report and the frequently asked questions)

Download the ELCA Church Council's recommendations: http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/pdf/050411churchcouncil.pdf (PDF)