Resolution 2009-08:

That the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Become a Reconciling in Christ Synod

Passed

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1 WHEREAS, in Baptism, we welcome
2 all into the community of faith;
3 and

4 WHEREAS, in Holy Communion, we
5 invite and welcome all to the
6 Lord’s Table; and

7 WHEREAS, congregations of the
8 Southeastern Minnesota Synod of
9 the Evangelical Lutheran Church
10 in America have adopted public
11 statements of openness and
12 welcome; and

13 WHEREAS, the Evangelical Lutheran
14 Church in America has been at
15 work since 2001 to develop and
16 state a foundational framework
17 that will help it discern what it
18 means faithfully to follow God’s
19 law of love in the increasingly
20 complex sphere of human
21 sexuality; and

22 WHEREAS, some sectors of society
23 and some church bodies and
24 congregations shun gay, lesbian,
25 transgender, and bi-sexual people
26 from their midst; and

27 WHEREAS, the Reconciling in Christ
28 program of Lutherans Concerned /
29 North America provides resources
30 and linkages to congregations who
31 choose to affirm and welcome
32 people of all sexual orientations
33 and gender identities, otherwise
34 shunned; and

35 WHEREAS, the Reconciling in Christ
36 program exceeds 400 settings,
37 including twenty-four synods;
38 now,

39 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that
40 the Southeastern Minnesota Synod,
41 meeting in Assembly, request the
42 Southeastern Minnesota Synod
43 Council to become a Reconciling
44 in Christ member by developing,
45 adopting and submitting an
46 Affirmation of Welcome that may
47 also become a model to its
48 member congregations.

Submitted by Rev. Judy A. Gustafson and the undersigned voting members of the 2009 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly:

Marcia Nagel, Jim Nagel, Tom Engstrom, Dottie Barrett, Rev. Robert Albing, Rev. Bruce W. Benson, Allan Bieber, Rev. Jason Bryan-Wegner, Zashata Burton, Rev. Joy Gonnerman, Rev. Judy Reitz Gustafson, Rev. Michael A. Gustafson, Rev. Jennifer A. Koenig, Rev. Kristen Schlauderaff, Roger Sween

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