ELCA Studying Church-State Relations

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Church-state relations and religious freedom" have gone through several changes in the United States over the past 30 years.  So, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has engaged in a study to "clarify, develop and deepen a Lutheran approach to this area for today's context."
     "We haven't, as Lutherans, done a lot with the subject since the 1960s, when significant work was done," said the Rev. John R. Stumme, ELCA associate director for studies and co-director of a writing team -- nine ELCA members who met here Jan. 24-25 to review their assignments and converse with two authors on related subjects.
     Many of the issues have changed in the past 30 years, said Stumme.  For example, the Supreme Court of the United States has made a number of decisions influencing church-state relations, and it's currently considering a challenge to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
     "We've gotten together a group of writers working in different but related areas," said Robert W. Tuttle, associate professor, National Law Center, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and co-director of the writing team.
     "One of the themes is `Christian citizenship' and what it means for us to be `dual citizens'" -- members of religion and society, he said.
     "It's quite tempting for us to think of this as a church- state project," said Tuttle, "but it really is a project about how we can be faithful Christians from this Lutheran tradition in civil life....  So, we're trying to think of what it means to be Christian citizens."
     The writers met with the Rev. Ronald F. Thiemann, an ELCA pastor, author of "Religion in Public Life" and dean of the Divinity School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.  He said religion and civil society share common principles of freedom, equality and mutual respect.
     "You are a moral community," said Michael J. Perry, author of "Religion in Politics: Constitutional and Moral Perspectives" and Howard J. Trienens Chair in Law, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.  He asked the group, "Why should anyone assume that you would not vigorously involve yourself in politics?"
     Tuttle said each writer will tackle a different aspect of church-state relations:

   *   Lori Lee Brocker, First Amendment attorney, David Wright
       Tremaine Law Offices, Portland, Ore., will delve into
       "clergy-penitent privilege" or clergy confidentiality and
       other "institutional interactions" such as taxation.

   *   Dr. Marie Failinger, School of Law, Hamline University,
       St. Paul, Minn., will present the context of education,
       public and parochial, and how that context is impacted by
       court decisions and by the changing political climate.

   *   Dr. Mary Jane Haemig, assistant professor of religion,
       Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash., will use her
       experience as a lawyer and church historian to discuss
       church-state relations from the Protestant Reformation.

   *   Dr. Patricia McIntyre, professor of ethics, Texas
       Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, will explore ways
       Lutherans have adapted to the separation of church and
       state in the United States.

   *   The Rev. Gary M. Simpson, associate professor of
       systematic theology, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.,
       will write about the Lutheran church-state history and its
       implications for a broader notion of civil society.

   *   Dr. Myles C. Stenshoel, retired professor of political
       science, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, will outline the
       constitutional doctrines regarding religion that have
       developed since the 1940s.

   *   Stumme will update earlier works on theological
       interpretations of religious liberty.

   *   Tuttle will explore several issues facing churches and
       local governments such as zoning laws.

   *   Susan Vallem, social work department chair, Wartburg
       College, Waverly, Iowa, will chronicle Lutheran social
       service work and relate its theology.

   The writers will assemble again in September to share the
first drafts of their work.  Final drafts are expected in 1998.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html