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Bishop's Bits - Invitation to Conversation Following the Churchwide Assembly
Follow Up on the '09 Churchwide Assembly > Invitation to Conversation
Video - Click here for Bishop Usgaard's video Invitation to Conversation, which accompanies this message.
Dear Partners in Ministry:
It has been a month since the Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis. In that time, there has been no shortage of conversation and debate, and that is good. Questions need to be answered; concerns need to be addressed. The resolutions passed in assembly witness to a church that is not in agreement on these issues of sexuality. And yet during this time, the Word has continued to be preached and the Sacraments administered. There is our hope for the coming days.
Throughout the voting, and discussions both before and after the Churchwide Assembly actions, many questions have focused on Scripture, and so it should. I would remind you of two resources that many have found helpful even though their copyright is 2003:
Timothy Wengert, from our seminary in Philadelphia, has also written a piece for the September 2009 Journal of Lutheran Ethics in response to those who say that only one side of the debate is using the Bible. It is concise and I believe very understandable.
Worship and liturgical resources have also been developed for use as you see fit. The first is a resource of scripture readings, prayer and hymns for the period beginning with Holy Cross Day through the week of St. Luke, Evangelist. The second are resources from Evangelical Lutheran Worship for a service of healing (p. 276 in the pew edition). The third are prayers of intercession. A fourth document is a list of suggested readings and prayers for personal or pastoral care use.
There have also been some questions asked more frequently than others:
- What happens now that the vote has happened?
A process begins where policies are developed by the vocation and education unit and others in the churchwide expression, reviewed by the conference of bishops, and eventually voted by the ELCA church council. It will take weeks and months to finalize these policies.
- What changes in the meantime?
Nothing. The ELCA church council meets in November. It is then they will approve the actions of the Chuchwide Assembly. But nothing will change until new policies are developed. For now, we continue to follow our previous policies.
- Can congregations change their constitution to prohibit calling pastors in same sex relationships?
Yes. But I would encourage congregations to wait for the policies themselves to be finished. One of the amendments added to the resolutions voted by the Churchwide Assembly is that the policies themselves would include provisions for those who disagree. There may not be need to change your constitution. But whether you change your constitution or not, remember that it is still the congregation itself that will decide who their pastor is to be.
- How do we know if someone is in a same sex relationship?
I assume there will be openness in papers and in conversation. We as a synod will also be transparent. It benefits no one to "sneak" someone through. We have not done that in the past and will not do it in the future. The intent of the call process is that both congregation and candidate know each other as well as possible.
- Who were these voting members at the churchwide assembly?
They were 1,045 members of ELCA congregations; 60% were laity, 40% were clergy. They came from the 65 synods of the ELCA with specific numbers determined by size of the synod. From the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, we had 27 voters. Each of the five conferences in the synod nominated voting members, who were then elected at the synod assembly. Looking ahead, conference assemblies in February 2010 will be nominating voting members to the 2011 Churchwide Assembly.
As other questions arise, please don't hesitate to contact us. It is so important at times like this that correct information is being shared.
It is also important that our conversations and debates be helpful. I would remind you of the "guidelines for conversation" that we used at our 2009 synod assembly.
- Wrap your conversations in prayer. Ask for strength to remain calm; guidance to speak your point of view clearly; and openness to carefully hear other points of view.
- Listen respectfully and carefully to others. Don't assume you know what they will say. Respond to what you have heard. Be attentive to what has not been said.
- Speak for yourself, rather than as a member of a group. Use "I" statements, e.g. "I feel..." or "I believe...," rather than "You" statements, e.g. "you people" or "they."
- Speak respectfully to and about people at all times, whether you agree with them or not. Allow others to be heard. Refrain from stereotyping or labeling. Remember the point of sharing in this way is to open up discussion, not close off discussion.
- Do not question the faith or faith commitment of others. Honor those who have a different point of view than your own. Remember Paul's admonition "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you.'" (Cor. 12:21). Those present are fellow members of the Body of Christ. Remember Luther's teaching in our Confessions that in relation to others we should "defend them, speak well of them, and explain their actions in the kindest way."
Shalom,
Harold Usgaard
Bishop
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