Lutherans Express Variety of Concerns in Early Assemblies

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) serving as voting members to 2002 synod assemblies addressed a variety of topics, according to reports from early assemblies on file here with the ELCA Department for Synodical Relations. The topics included evangelism, debt relief for seminarians, a full communion agreement of the ELCA and Episcopal Church, and homosexuality, including the ELCA sexuality studies.
The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop. Most synods hold annual assemblies in which they elect leaders, determine budgets and address topics of concern through resolutions or through memorials, specific requests directed to the ELCA churchwide organization.
Synod assemblies for 2002 were held between April 6 and June 23.
Reports filed with the Department for Synodical Relations by June 15 included:
+ Middle East: The Sierra Pacific Synod assembly condemned all acts of "violence, destruction and oppression" taken by both the government of Israel and Palestinian groups. Its resolution called on the synod bishop and the ELCA churchwide organization to appeal to President George W. Bush and the U.S. government "to take a clear position in regard to ending the occupation (of Palestinian-controlled lands), advocate for international observers and work for implementation" of United Nations resolutions regarding the region.
The Southeastern Synod assembly asked the synod bishop and the synod council to send letters to President Bush and U.S. Senators, asking them to work "to ensure a swift, lasting peace in the region," and "that the synod stand firmly with our Lutheran brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and Palestine) (ELCJ) and support their ministry" through gifts given at the assembly. The resolution also noted damage to facilities of Lutheran congregations in the West Bank, following recent Israeli incursions into Palestinian- controlled territories in response to suicide bombings in Israel.
The Rocky Mountain Synod assembly adopted a resolution supporting Palestinian Lutherans, and condemned actions of violence and oppression taken by the government of Israel and Palestinian groups.
The New England Synod adopted a resolution expressing its "repudiation of the recent upsurge of anti-Semitism around the world and in our own land as a contradiction and affront to our calling." It pledged to "oppose the deadly working of such bigotry." The resolution reasserted the synod's recognition of Israel's right to exist and concerns of Israel's people for their country's security and survival. The synod assembly said it "explicitly deplore(s) all killing of innocent civilians and every use of tactics of terror and atrocity."
The synod, which is a companion synod with the ELCJ, said in its resolution "that we affirm to our Jewish partners in civic life that our empathy toward the Palestinian community does not imply enmity toward Israel but presents a challenge to help shape a better and coexistent future." It planned to communicate its action to the Jewish community in New England and asked the ELCA to take similar actions.
In a separate action on the Middle East, the New England Synod assembly asked its congregations to apprise members of the situation involving Augusta Victoria Hospital, a Lutheran World Federation facility on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. The State of Israel is seeking back employer's taxes from the hospital, from which it has been exempt. The case is presently in an Israeli court. The resolution urged members to contact leaders in the U.S. government to express concerns about the case.
+ "Called to Common Mission (CCM)": Two synods defeated resolutions that would change CCM, the full communion agreement of the ELCA and Episcopal Church. The Southeast Michigan Synod assembly defeated a proposal that called on the ELCA churchwide organization to rescind CCM "and admonish the (ELCA) presiding bishop to appoint a new balanced commission to draft a new agreement with the Episcopal Church U.S.A. that does not include adopting the historic episcopacy for or in the ELCA." Episcopalians brought to the relationship the historic episcopate, a succession of bishops as a sign of unity back to the earliest days of the Christian Church. The same synod assembly defeated a resolution that asked for a change in the ELCA's rite of ordination. The proposed change said the rite "in no way bestows upon the individual being ordained or installed any superior moral or spiritual qualities."
The Southeastern Minnesota Synod assembly defeated a resolution from one of its conferences that called on the synod to affirm a policy that qualified seminary graduates "shall not be denied ordination because of a preference for ordination apart from the historic episcopacy."
The Minneapolis Area Synod assembly asked for clarification of Episcopal Church understandings of CCM and supported facilitating exceptions to the rule that bishops be installed into the historic episcopate, a requirement of CCM.
+ Homosexuality: In 2001 the ELCA Churchwide Assembly called for a study of homosexuality and related topics, with a final report and possible recommendations to be made at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. The 2001 assembly also asked the church for a process leading to a social statement on human sexuality.
The Pacifica Synod assembly resolved that synod congregations should make use of resources from the ELCA Division for Church in Society and said congregations should seek assistance from a synod homosexuality study ministry team.
The Southeastern Minnesota Synod asked the ELCA Church Council to consider a possible amendment to the ELCA Constitution to allow congregations to vote on recommendations from the ELCA sexuality studies.
The Southeastern Michigan Synod assembly encouraged its congregations and pastors to begin educational activities to prepare for the 2005 report and advocated use of resources and personnel provided by a synod task force for gay and lesbian concerns. The synod also expressed its hope that congregations and pastors be "open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this process."
The Minneapolis Area Synod assembly adopted a resolution strengthening the synod's commitment to the "Reconciling in Christ" movement among congregations, providing support to and welcoming gay and lesbian people. Reconciling in Christ is a program of Lutherans Concerned/North America that encourages churches to welcome people who are gay and lesbian into the life of the congregation.
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod assembly adopted a resolution affirming the process for the sexuality studies and encouraged all congregations to participate in the process.
+ Reparation for Slave Descendants: The Southeast Michigan Synod assembly adopted a resolution that the synod "confesses" that the transatlantic slave trade was a crime against all humanity. The assembly committed to prayerfully consider support for reparations to African American descendants of the slave trade, pray for healing descendent "victims" and "perpetrators" and for the healing of the nation as a whole. The assembly asked that congregations study the topic so they can respond faithfully.
+ Prison Reform: The Greater Milwaukee Synod assembly adopted a resolution to find more creative ways to be involved in prison ministries and to continue to educate congregations on prison issues. The assembly asked the ELCA Church Council to commission the ELCA Division for Church in Society to "make a social statement on prison reform in the United States and to define the role of the church in prevention programs for at-risk families and youth, restitution for victims and inmate restoration [restoring parolees to society] and aftercare, so that the church actively engages in advancing a vision<