"Evaluate and refine its peace-making efforts to demonstrate as fully as possible the "balanced...care for all parties" expressed in the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine (2005; Sect II.A), while continuing our unique relationship with and accompaniment of Palestinian Christians and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL)."

 

Today, we said out loud, all are welcome here. All. We will love you and welcome you into our church no matter what gender, race, sexual orientation, ability status, or political opinion you may have. Not only that, we trust you to teach the grace of Jesus Christ to our church as rostered leaders. All are welcome here. I recognize that this will not be an easy change. There were many hurt feelings and people ready to walk away from the church upon the results of that vote showing up on screen. Bishop Hanson spoke to the Assembly after the resolutions had been passed with amazing composure and deep concern for the future of the church. I am truly excited for the doors these resolutions have opened but I fear for those we will leave behind. The experience of being here at this Assembly has been one I am so thankful for. I'm glad I've been on the front lines of the debate and I know amount of consideration and deliberation that went into this very important decision. I learned today it is inevitable we will lose some members. But I also think this will give us the ability to grow in new ways and expand our ministries that will be beneficial for us in the long run.

As emergency sirens were blaring, the Assembly continued to bog through the discussions and opposing opinions regarding the Human Sexuality Statement. Bishop Hanson would periodically intervene to update us on the condition of the weather we were oblivious to from inside the convention hall. When the time came for a vote on the Statement (about 3 hours later), the clouds parted and the sun was shining. With exactly 66.67% voting for approval of the statement, the ELCA opens itself to recognizing the broader perspectives of the people of our church. The first time I read the statement, I didn't get it. It seemed tame. I definitely felt it could say much more about the gift of diversity God has given us in our sexual expression. As I engaged in discussion with people of varying opinions, I realized that by the church accepting a statement that even acknowledges homosexuality as real and loving part of our church membership it was taking a very bold step. There are lots of people out there that are not willing to make that step. 33.33% of the voting members are not. I know we have a long way to go in terms of fully including and celebrating our LGBT members of the Lutheran church. But for our church as a whole at this time, this statement is exactly what we need. A framework from which to move forward.

Tonight was a special worship service hosted by Goodsoil at Central Lutheran Church- right across the street from the convention center. Central actually sustained damage to their steeple when the tornado touched down this afternoon. It also tossed tables set up outside at "Pub Central" onto the roof of the convention center. Pub Central is an awesome ministry of Central Lutheran Church. A beer tent for the Churchwide Assembly! Anyway, the worship service was awesome. Pastor Barbara Lundblad preached. I've heard many people rave, "Have you heard Barbara Lundblad preach? She's amazing." I second the motion. Ok, I've been listening to Robert's Rules of Order a little too much.

As we begin to consider the ministry policy recommendations that will allow people in long-term, monogamous, same-sex relationships serve as rostered clergy, I hope that the Assembly continues to bear the storm and wait for the light! I'm convinced that some of the very best pastors to come will be from the LGBT community, we just need to give them a fair opportunity to follow God's call!

Today began the discussion of the Assembly on the Human Sexuality Statement. In a "quasi committee of the whole", Bishop Hanson opened the floor to people to share their stories, comments, and questions regarding the statement. Arguments for both sides are incredibly diverse. There are emotional stories and personal testimonies. There are quotations from scripture and recollections of theological foundations. It's exhausting to sit there and listen to it all. And I think that's the problem. Most people aren't even listening. I'm worried that people are already settled in their opinions and have been at least since they first saw the draft of the sexuality statement. They won't be open to where the spirit moves them or open to hear the testimony of the other side. As I've discussed with so many other people, many who've been to past assemblies, the church is getting tired of this discussion. Tomorrow brings the vote on the Sexuality Statement. Pray that we are willing to speak to the Gospel filled with grace and acceptance for all God's creation by passing the statement. And, watch the New York Times for comments from me!!

As if dealing with the drama of the sexuality statement wasn't enough, today began the discussion of the challenges to the Peace Not Walls campaign. I attended a luncheon hosted by the Muhlenberg College. The speakers included Peter Petit, a pastor from Pennsylvania on staff at the Muhlenberg College, Sister Ruth (explanation to follow), and another pastor from the Lower Susquehanna synod. Sister Ruth was supposed to give a brief overview of the history of the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I say 'supposed to' because her biased recounting of the history of the Holy Land was hardly an overview, rather a reframing of the truth to emphasize Israeli suffering. She is a former litigation lawyer and a Roman Catholic nun. According to a New York Times article I found, the organization that she runs has "specialized in behind-the-scenes infighting at denominational meetings" regarding policies on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The article even calls her an, "intrusive irritant." Luckily, back in the halls of the Minneapolis Convention Center, the formal hearing on the Middle East Strategy was constructive, informative, and overall supportive of the current policies of the ELCA. Perhaps the dissidents were saving their comments for the voting floor. Whatever the case, I thought the discussion that took place guided by the ELCA staff working in Global Mission and the Peace Not Walls campaign went really well. Hopefully with thoughtful comments from the Bishops that visited the Holy Land back in January and personal reflections from members of our church that have lived or served in the Holy Land, the Peace Not Walls strategy will face no real threat from these small dissenting minorities. I could go on and on, but I'm exhausted!

Well, Plenary Session 1 concluded at approximately 11:00 pm. I am exhausted and it's only day one. Thankfully, we approved the rules of the Assembly as they were given to us. That means, when it comes time to vote on the resolution to change ministry policies to allow people in monogamous, same-sex relationships to serve as rostered clergy in the ELCA, it will require only a simple majority to pass. That's great news. As one member of our synod said, when the question of ordaining women came before the church back in the 70's, it only passed by 57%. We look back now with no regrets and think we're crazy for ever denying women the right to be ordained. This, too, shall pass. I certainly hope that we can begin on the path towards true equality and justice within our church by the passage of this resolution on Friday.

In other news, the opening worship service was absolutely wonderful. Presiding Bishop Hanson delivered about powerful sermon mostly about how fear has shaped us and what it will take to overcome the fear that divides us. He said that in the minds of the press that have been constantly interviewing him over the past few days, the results of this assembly have already been determined. Discussion will lead to divisiveness will lead to division of the church. He reminded us that this history has not been written yet. By letting God hold our fears, so they no longer hold us back, we can move forward through this assembly willing to love boldly and let faith, "release our imaginations, deepen our faith, ... embolden our witness". Powerful stuff.

Oh, and I'm a little bit of a celebrity because my Voting Member Profile was featured in the Assembly Digest newsletter that went out to all the Assembly participants.

Be sure to check out the ELCA News Coverage of the assembly. Here are the links:

ELCA News Service

Churchwide Assembly Home

I'm all checked in for the Assembly and I've already attended the Youth and Young Adult Voting Member luncheon. I didn't recognize anyone else, but met a friend of a friend in the YAGM program. Oh, and I ran into Sister Sylvia, which was great. The convention center is huge and there are Lutherans everywhere! This afternoon is the opening worship service and our first Plenary Session. More to come soon!

  Back in May of 2008, I was elected by the Southeast Michigan Synod to serve as a voting member of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. This year’s assembly will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota with 1045 voting members arriving from across the United States. Some of the “hot” issues facing the Assembly this year have already made headlines. The most controversial issue being a vote to accept the Human Sexuality Statement and a ministry policy resolution based on that statement. If passed, the resolution would allow congregations who wish to do so call homosexual pastors in committed, long-term, monogamous relationships to serve as ordained ministers. Saturday morning on the front page of the Monroe Evening News was an article about the Assembly and the “gay clergy” vote. It is definitely an important issue facing the church that could very well cause people to leave the ELCA, no matter which way the vote goes. This issue will come up at the very first session of the Assembly, where the body votes to adopt the rules of the Assembly. According to the current rules, Social Statements require a 2/3 vote for passage. Resolutions, however, require only a simple majority. Groups have been soliciting voting members by mail to convince them that the rules must be changed, so a 2/3 majority will also be necessary to pass the resolution regarding homosexual clergy. That’s just a brief background of one of the big issues facing this year’s Assembly.

Other issues of importance to me include a memorial (memorials are resolutions put forth by individual synods for the consideration of the whole church) by the Northeastern Pennsylvania synod calling for a more balanced approach to the Church’s strategy for engagement in Israel and Palestine. The resolution states that the ELCA’s Peace Not Walls campaign must become more balanced by supporting Israeli organizations, schools, and NGO’s equally with Palestinian ones. On Tuesday, I’ll participate in a luncheon hosted by the Muhlenberg College to discuss the Israeli-Arab conflict. The Muhlenberg College is a Lutheran University, but has a surprising 28% Jewish student population. The college is very concerned that the ELCA’s currently policies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are alienating Jewish Americans. The luncheon is supposed to highlight experiences from Lutherans that have traveled in the Holy Land as well as perspectives on the Church’s call to peace-making. I have a strong feeling I am going to have some different opinions from those selected to speak for this luncheon.

Throughout the week, I’ll try to update this blog with the ongoings of the Assembly and the status of resolutions such as the Sexuality Statement and the Ministry Policy Change.