Lutherans Adopt Local Option, Postpone Final Decision

Following up on our previous discussion of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, it appears something significant may be happening in regards to their stance on human sexuality matters, but exactly what that something is remains unclear. News reports are sketchy, at best.

On Thursday, the Assembly voted to refer all memorials (resolutions) on same-sex blessings to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality, which will develop an official statement to be presented to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.

Standards for rostered leaders was also a topic discussed. This was in regards to gay and lesbian clergy currently serving in the Lutheran Church. 83 of these clergy introduced themselves to the Assembly on Wednesday. A resolution called for also referring this matter to the Task Force. A substitute resolution called for an immediate change of policy. The discussion was to be continued on Friday.

The news regarding Friday and today is limited to two brief press reports, which seem to contradict each other.

Kendall points us to the first news story; Ban upheld on ELCA clergy's gay relationships:

Voting members at an assembly of the nation's largest Lutheran denomination on Friday rejected an effort by the Greater Milwaukee Synod and 20 other synods to end a ban on homosexual clergy who are in committed relationships.

However, Bishop Craig Johnson of Minneapolis kept the possibility of change alive by introducing a resolution that would allow congregations, bishops, regional synodical councils and the national presiding bishop to jointly allow exceptions to the ban case by case...

It appears that some variation of Bp. Johnson's resolution was approved, according to a brief MSNBC article under a headline that conflicts with the previous one; Lutherans to allow pastors in gay relationships:

Clergy members who are in homosexual relationships will be able to serve as pastors, the largest U.S. Lutheran body said Saturday.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America passed a resolution at its annual assembly urging bishops to refrain from disciplining pastors who are in “faithful committed same-gender relationships.”

The resolution passed by a vote of 538-431.

More on this when the dust settles and we can find a few more details.

J.

UPDATE: Progressive Involvement offers us the wording of the motion by Bishop Paul Landahl of Chicago which was passed by the Assembly:

Resolved, that in an effort to continue as a church in moral deliberation without further strife and pain to its members the churchwide assembly prays, urges, and encourages synods, synodical bishops, and the presiding bishop to refrain from and demonstrate restraint in disciplining those congregations and persons who call into the rostered ministry otherwise-qualified candidates who are in a mutual, chaste, and faithful committed same-gender relationship, and be it further

Resolved, that the churchwide assembly prays, urges, and encourages synods, synodical bishops, and the presiding bishop to refrain from and demonstrate restraint in disciplining those rostered leaders in a mutual, chaste, and faithful committed same-gender relationship who have been called and rostered in this church.

Thanks, Susan Kay.

Check the comments for links to more news reports.