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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the ELCA developing a social statement on human sexuality?
The 2001 Churchwide Assembly acted to: “initiate a process within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to develop a social statement on human sexuality.” In accordance with the social statement development procedures, the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality was created at the direction of the ELCA Church Council to complete this task.

What is a social statement?
ELCA social statements are teaching documents that assist members in forming judgments on social issues. They are meant to aid in communal and individual moral deliberation and moral formation. They also set policy for this church and guide its advocacy and work as a public church. They result from an extensive process of deliberation, and are adopted by a two-thirds vote of a churchwide assembly.

How are social statements used?
ELCA members are encouraged to use social statements for teaching and moral guidance regarding social issues. Social statements govern church policy and state the official position of this church. Not all members are expected to agree with all parts of a social statement.

Is the current document on the website the ELCA’s Social Statement?
No, it is only a draft. The writing of the draft is the work of the task force and represents its best thinking about these issues to date, although not all task force members agree with all aspects of this document. It does not represent ELCA teaching or policy at this point, but does invite members of this church to think along with the task force by considering what it says and responding to it.

How has the content of the draft statement been determined?
The content and range of issues covered in the Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality was developed through the standard ELCA social statement process. The Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality has read, deliberated, and consulted with experts on matters from the Bible and biology to sociology and theology. The task force has published three studies to invite deliberation and response throughout the ELCA. Responses to the studies have been tabulated and reported to the task force.

Who is on the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality?
The task force is composed of members of this church who have different perspectives and competencies. The task force represents a cross-section of opinions held by those in the ELCA. Learn more about who is on the task force.

How was the decision made to set the release date of the draft statement?
This timing was addressed several times by ELCA Church in Society staff and the task force itself given the problems presented by the proximity of the release to Holy Week and Easter. Synod assemblies and hearings begin in late March or early April, and the task force needed to give the members of those synods enough time to be prepared. The timeline was shared with the program committee of Church in Society and the ELCA Conference of Bishops. The ELCA Church Council also discussed the issue at some length. It was recognized that the release date of March 13 was not an easy solution, but in those discussions some suggested that the witness of Holy Week could helpfully remind us that matters of sexuality, while significant to this church, are not at the heart of faith.

How can I express to the task force my reactions to the draft social statement?
There are several ways to respond to the task force regarding the draft social statement on human sexuality—filling out the response form in the back of the draft booklet, attending synod-sponsored hearings, or accessing the response form on the Internet. The deadline for all feedback is November 1, 2008.

Where can I find this response form?
The form is found at the back of the draft booklet and should be sent to: Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, 8765 W. Higgins, Chicago, IL 60631. The same form is available online.

What is a synod hearing?
Many synods, although not all, sponsor “hearings” as a public place to share comments and hear what others are saying about the draft. They are not designed for statement and rebuttal but offer participants about an hour and a half to share their comments about the text as it now stands. A task force representative is present at each hearing as a listener; a synod recorder also takes notes. The task force will receive their reports as part of the process for revising the draft for 2009. Find a hearing.

I have never been to a synod hearing. What kinds of things can I expect people to say?
Participants are likely to offer a variety of responses and insights. Comments at such hearings generally range from affirmations of particular ideas to suggestions about what should be changed to concerns for what is missing from the text as it now reads. The point is to share responses of various kinds that will strengthen the document.

What happens after the synod hearings?
Both the task force representative and the synod recorder write a report and send it to the task force.

I am unable to attend my synod’s hearing on the Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality. How can I have my voice heard?
The best way is to use the response form in the draft booklet. However, you may check to see if there is a hearing that you could attend in a neighboring synod.

You may communicate also by writing a letter or e-mail. Letters should be sent to: Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631. The e-mail address is faithfuljourney@elca.org.

How will the task force handle so many responses?
The ELCA’s unit for Research and Evaluation is aiding the task force to process the feedback. All communications, responses, and reports received about the draft during 2008 will be collated and shared with the task force. The task force will use these to help instruct its writing team on how it wishes to revise and strengthen the statement. The task force will discuss the work of the writing team and make final decisions about the proposed social statement.

What happens after the task force delivers the proposed social statement in February 2009?
Once the proposed statement on human sexuality is approved by the task force, it will be reviewed by the Church in Society program committee and then sent to the Church Council, which has the authority to recommend a proposed social statement to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly for its consideration. For more information about this process, visit the timeline.

Don’t social statements often have “Implementing Resolutions” attached?
Social statements normally are accompanied by implementing resolutions when they are considered at a churchwide assembly. Any implementing resolutions for this social statement will be provided by the task force when the proposed social statement becomes available in February 2009. “Social statements include in their implementing resolutions instructions and recommendations on how their governing principles and directives are to be carried out by different parts of this church.” (Policies and Procedures of the ELCA for Addressing Social Concerns, 1997, revised 2006)

Will this draft address the issue of official church rosters for professional church leaders?
The task force was directed by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to “specifically address and make recommendations to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly on changes to any policies that preclude practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of this church.” Specific recommendations of this kind, however, are not included in a social statement. The task force will make recommendations regarding official church rosters to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Whatever recommendations the task force makes will be available in February 2009.

What is the church's current position on ordination, sexuality and sexual conduct?
It remains unchanged since the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. Married pastors are expected to be faithful to their spouses. Single pastors are expected to remain chaste. Gays or lesbians in a same-gender sexual relationship are precluded from ordination. Celibate self-identified homosexuals may be and remain ordained. For more information, see Vision and Expectations: Ordained Ministers in the ELCA (1990).

What do the 2007 Churchwide Assembly actions mean? Has there has been a policy change in ELCA in regards to the rostering of pastors in committee same-gender relationships?
The decision of the assembly to encourage restraint on the part of bishops does not constitute a policy change to its Vision and Expectations document. In fact, a request to strike language barring ministers from same sex relationships was denied earlier in the assembly. The motion is not a directive, but is advisory rather than determinative.

What about the decisions of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly?
The 2005 Churchwide Assembly voted in favor of the first two recommendations from the church council (on church unity and on blessing) and declined the third (on ordination). The strong vote in favor (851-127) on the first affirmed the Task Force's recommendation that issues of homosexuality do not have to be church dividing and also affirmed this church's commitment to mission together while conducting this mutually respectful dialogue. The result of the vote on the two other recommendations is that the policies and bylaws of the ELCA regarding ordination of gays and lesbians in committed relationships and the blessing of same-sex unions have remained unchanged.

Why are we spending so much money on these studies when that money is needed for things like world hunger and mission?
The 2001 Churchwide Assembly voted to conduct these studies and bring recommendations for the church to consider in 2005 and a social statement, which will be brought in 2009. The Assembly saw that this is an important matter of conscience since many in the church who hold different views are struggling with uncertainty.