Barry Manilow with some wine and cheese?
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
April 16, 2010
ELCA Council Authorizes Rite, Receives Report on 'Bound Conscience'
10-115-MRC/JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized a rite designed to receive pastors from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) onto the ELCA's roster of ordained ministers. It also received a report on the church's attention to the concept of "bound conscience" and addressed other topics.
The council, the ELCA's board of directors and interim legislative authority between churchwide assemblies, met here April 9-12.
To be used by the ELCA's 65 synod bishops in the next two years, the rite serves as a means of reception that embraces the ELCA's desire for reconciliation with ELM pastors who are serving ELCA congregations and who wish to be recognized fully as ordained ministers in the denomination. The rite also seeks to respect the ELCA's "ecumenical commitment to the ongoing reconciliation of ministry in the Church catholic," according to background materials for council members.
ELM is an organization that credentials qualified candidates of all sexual orientations and gender identities for ordained ministry. [GJ - Except straights.]
The council's authorization of the rite is intended to receive 17 ELM pastors who were not previously on the ELCA clergy roster or on the roster of ordained ministers of a predecessor church body; who have been approved by a candidacy committee of a synod; and who have received a call in the church. The rite had been recommended by the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
The council emphasized that "no other use of the rite is authorized," and it expressed gratitude for the work of those who contributed to the development of the rite.
The Rev. Robert G. Schaefer, executive, ELCA Worship and Liturgical Resources, said that "Reception to the Roster of Ordained Ministers with Prayer and the Laying on of Hands" is intended "to be a rite that brings liturgical expression to the deep desire … for reconciliation both in this church and within the Church catholic. It intends to recognize what the ELCA has not yet recognized. At the same time (the rite) is intended to be recognizable by world Lutheran ecumenical partners, echoing patterns that are important for ordination."
The Rev. Michael J. Schmidt, council member, Sioux City, Iowa, said some pastors in his area asked if "there was something of a 'mea culpa' from the church" for those who have been "denied for a number of reasons for a number of years." Schmidt asked if there could be a rubric added to the rite to reflect an apology.
[GJ - Did God apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah? Just sayin'.]
In response the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said he thought it would be difficult to ask a synod bishop "to apologize for actions of the church." He told the council, "It would be very difficult to insert, especially liturgically, a rite of apology. I trust that those acts of reconciliation occur in the pastoral relationship, in the candidacy process and in the conversations that occur."
In a separate action the council received a report from a working group, convened by the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, assigned to respond to "Motion F" -- an action proposed to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly that requests a study on the concept of bound conscience, particularly with regard to same-gender relationships.
The council acknowledged the objectives of the working group's recommendations, which includes a commitment to theological conversation on the foundation of the ELCA's decision-making. ELCA members will be invited to participate in the conversations, and the results will be disseminated widely. The group recommended "respect for people whose consciences are bound to different understandings of Scripture," and an "invitation to helpful and constructive engagement with the issue of respect for people whose consciences are bound to different understandings of Scripture." The council action anticipates "deeper and broader" attention to these matters through conversation among key leadership groups, publications, a bibliography and/or resource listing on the ELCA Web site, and encouragement for constructive dialogue in various settings.
The council took action on other items, received reports and updates on other matters:
+ Council members approved amendments to the ELCA Board of Pensions' medical and dental, retirement, survivor and disability benefits plans, and flexible spending plan. The amendments allow plan members to enroll eligible same-gender partners in the benefit plans effective May 1. The changes were mandated by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly's adoption of a social statement on human sexuality. An implementing resolution (#7) called for "the ELCA to amend the eligibility provisions of the ELCA Pension and Other Benefits Program, consistent with the policies of this church."
+ David D. Swartling, ELCA secretary, reported that as of April 7 there were 308 congregations which had taken first votes to leave the ELCA. Of those, 228 passed with the required two-thirds vote (among members present for the vote) and 87 failed. Of the 308, 90 congregations have taken a second vote and 89 of those passed. Swartling told the council that congregations will not be removed from the ELCA roster until their synods authorize removal.
+ The council affirmed the time line for the ELCA Social Statement on Genetics to be presented for consideration to the 2011 Churchwide Assembly. It also asked the ELCA Church in Society program unit "to convene conversations" related to the development of future social statements, and to bring a report and possible recommendations to the November council meeting.
+ The council anticipates the launch of "Kalos" -- the ELCA Legacy Society -- in 2010, and a wills and bequests campaign in 2011. Swartling proposed an amendment to encourage the council, Conference of Bishops, synodical officers and other ELCA leaders to become charter members of Kalos.
+ The council re-elected the Rev. Rebecca S. Larson as executive director of the ELCA Church in Society program unit. Larson first joined the churchwide organization in that capacity in 2002. Her new four-year term will begin Oct. 14.
+ The council elected Robert Hahn, Walkersville, Md., to fill an unexpired vacancy on the board of trustees of Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry of the ELCA. It also elected John Bauder, Tampa, to the board of trustees of the Endowment Fund of the ELCA, and the advisory committee for Development Services and ELCA Foundation.
+ In her report the Rev. Teresita C. Valeriano, director, Lutheran World Federation's (LWF) North American Desk, said council members can participate in the 2010 LWF Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany, by praying, using the assembly's Bible study, preparing a dish from the LWF cookbook, "Food for Life," listening to the stories of Lutheran global companions and more. Because of budget reductions the ELCA cannot continue to sustain the LWF's North American desk full-time after the LWF assembly, reported Hanson, who thanked Valeriano for her "compassionate advocacy."
+ The council approved a proposal that the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly be held in Pittsburgh.
