Appropriate Next Steps for the ELCA

We the undersigned ELCA teaching theologians, and Christian theologians teaching at ELCA institutions, wish to affirm and support the four recommendations on Ministry Policies proposed by the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis (Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies available at: http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Report-and-Recommendation.aspx).

We take this action on the basis of the rationale on lines 147-212 of the Task Force’s document, and we would specifically highlight the following points:

·  We too affirm the authority of the Scriptures, but the seven biblical texts that are frequently cited on the issue of homosexuality are not directly pertinent to the 21st century discussion because some of them condemn specifically homosexual rape, deal with questions of “clean and unclean” that are not normative in the Christian community, do not take into account issues like “sexual orientation,” and presuppose that all would agree with a particular interpretation of what “nature” teaches.

·  The Task Force wisely proposes that both heterosexual and homosexual persons are expected to express sexual intimacy within publicly accountable, lifelong, and monogamous relationships. This has long been the expectation for heterosexual couples, and therefore is an appropriate expectation for homosexual couples as well.

·  The first recommendation of the Task Force rightly proposes that acceptance of same-gender relationships among all people of this church is a prerequisite to considering people in same-gender relationships for rostered leadership positions.

·  While not all Lutheran church bodies are of one mind on these issues, Scandinavian and German Lutherans have already taken similar actions to those being proposed now in the ELCA.

·  We who favor the changes being proposed pledge ourselves to honor and respect those sisters and brothers within the ELCA who for reasons of theology and conscience choose to oppose these changes.

·  We recognize that the unity of the church is based on one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and that within this unity, faithful members may disagree on individual items of faith and life.

Specifically we make the following affirmations to the questions posed by the Task Force:

1.  Should the ELCA commit itself to finding ways to allow congregations and synods that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships? Yes.

2.  Should this church commit itself to finding a way for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders of this church? Yes

3.  Can this church as it finds a way to roster people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, and same-gender relationships commit to doing so in ways that bear one another’s burdens, love the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of those with whom they disagree? Yes

4.  Should the ELCA consider structured flexibility in decision-making to allow in appropriate situations, people in publicly accountable, monogamous, lifelong, same-gender relationships to be approved for the rosters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America? Yes.

The following ELCA teaching theologians and Christian theologians teaching at ELCA institutions support this statement:

  1. James W. Aageson, Concordia College, Moorhead
  2. Klaus-Peter Adam, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  3. Terrence Baeder, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  4. James L. Bailey, Emeritus Wartburg Theological Seminary
  5. David Balch, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  6. Mark Bangert, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  7. John Barbour, St. Olaf College
  8. Mark W. Bartusch, Valparaiso University
  9. Patricia Beckman, St. Olaf College
  10. Kadi Billman, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  11. Walter C. Bouzard, Jr., Wartburg College
  12. Julius Carroll, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
  13. Herbert W. Chilstrom, Presiding Bishop emeritus, ELCA
  14. Lisa Dahill, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
  15. Steed V. Davidson, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  16. Mark U. Edwards, Jr., Harvard Divinity School
  17. Paul W. Egertson, Bishop emeritus Southwest California Synod
  18. John H. Elliott, University of San Francisco
  19. Lowell Erdahl, Bishop emeritus St. Paul Area Synod
  20. Maria Erling, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
  21. R. Guy Erwin, California Lutheran University
  22. Norma Cook Everist, Wartburg Theological Seminary
  23. Joseph Everson, California Lutheran University
  24. Stephen P. Folkemer, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
  25. David Fredrickson, Luther Seminary
  26. Clifford Green, emeritus Hartford Seminary
  27. Roy Hammerling, Concordia College, Moorhead
  28. Guillermo Hansen, Luther Seminary
  29. Shauna Hannon, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
  30. James Hanson, St. Olaf College
  31. Paul D. Hanson, Harvard Divinity School
  32. Kurt Hendel, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  33. Sarah Henrich, Luther Seminary
  34. Stewart W. Herman, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
  35. Mary Hess, Luther Seminary
  36. Krista E. Hughes, Hanover College
  37. Carol R. Jacobson, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  38. Peder Johnson, St. Olaf College
  39. Roger Johnson, emeritus Wellesley Colleg
  40. Brian C. Jones, Wartburg College
  41. Laurie Jungling, Augustana College, Sioux Falls
  42. Everett R. Kalin, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  43. James Kelhoffer, St. Louis University
  44. Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  45. Kathryn A. Kleinhans, Wartburg College
  46. Edgar Krentz, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  47. Karl Krueger, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
  48. L. DeAne Lagerquist, St. Olaf College
  49. Paul Landahl, Bishop emeritus Metropolitan Chicago Synod
  50. Kristin Johnston Largen, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
  51. Gordon Lathrop, Yale Divinity School
  52. Carolyn S. Leeb, Valparaiso University
  53. William E. Lesher, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  54. Barbara Lundblad, Union Theological Seminary
  55. Ronald B. MacLennan, Bethany College
  56. Romwald Maczka, Carthage College
  57. Madeleine Forell Marshall, California Lutheran University
  58. Jim Martin-Schramm, Luther College
  59. Susan McArver, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
  60. Ian A. McFarland, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
  61. Esther Menn, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  62. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Seattle University
  63. Peter T. Nash, Wartburg College
  64. Craig Nessan, Wartburg Theological Seminary
  65. Douglas E. Oakman, Pacific Lutheran University
  66. Jon Pahl, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
  67. Gary Pence, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  68. Ann Milliken Pederson, Augustana College, Sioux Falls
  69. Pete Pero, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  70. Richard J. Perry, Jr., Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  71. Brian Peterson, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
  72. Cheryl Peterson, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
  73. Ray Pickett, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  74. Melinda A. Quivik, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
  75. H. Frederick Reisz, Jr. , President Emeritus, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
  76. Caryn D. Riswold, Illinois College
  77. David Rhoads, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  78. Nelson Rivera, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
  79. José David Rodriguez, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  80. Tom Rogers, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  81. Barbara Rossing, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  82. Philip L. Ruge-Jones, Texas Lutheran University
  83. H. Paul Santmire, emeritus Wellesley College
  84. Craig Satterlee, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  85. Gwen Sayler, Wartburg Theological Seminary
  86. Christian Scharen, Luther Seminary
  87. Thomas Schattauer, Wartburg Theological Seminary
  88. Brooks Schramm, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
  89. Lea Schweitz, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  90. Michael Shelley, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  91. Gary Simpson, Luther Seminary
  92. Mary M. Solberg, Gustavus Adolphus College
  93. Gary Stansell, St. Olaf College
  94. Kirsi Stjerna, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
  95. Martha Stortz, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  96. Fred Strickert, Wartburg College
  97. Ben Stewart, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  98. Jarvis Streeter, California Lutheran University
  99. Paul Stuehrenberg, Yale Divinity School
  100. Karla Suomala, Luther College
  101. Mark N. Swanson, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  102. Richard W. Swanson, Augustana College, Sioux Falls
  103. Rosanne A. Swanson, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  104. Ronald F. Thiemann, Harvard Divinity School
  105. Linda E. Thomas, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  106. Samuel Thomas, California Lutheran University
  107. Mark Thomsen, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  108. Teresa Swan Tuite, Bates College
  109. Alicia Vargas, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
  110. Peter Vethanayagamony, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  111. Gregory Walter, St. Olaf Collage
  112. Christine Wenderoth, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  113. Audrey West, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  114. Paul Westermeyer, Luther Seminary
  115. Vitor Westhelle, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
  116. Courtney Wilder, Midland Lutheran College

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