Minneapolis Synod Letter on Civil Marriage for Same Gender People

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Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA

 

 

 
Dear Friends in Christ,

As you know, same-sex civil marriage will become legal in Minnesota effective August 1, 2013.

The ELCA has long been engaged in a process of careful discernment around matters of sexuality, and, in 2009, approved the social statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. I commend this excellent document to you.

In the midst of this new legal reality in Minnesota, it is important to note that the ELCA statement acknowledges that consensus does not exist in the church concerning same-gender committed relationships. (The statement describes four stances held with conviction and integrity by members of the ELCA.)

In the social statement’s FAQ, there are several paragraphs that serve as important guides for our synod’s congregations as they live in this new legislative reality. The following excerpts from the FAQ document on the social statement are most helpful and relevant:
What happened with regard to the recommendations regarding congregational recognition of publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships?

The assembly adopted four resolutions that commit the ELCA to bear one another’s burdens and respect bound consciences in these matters; to allow congregations that choose to do so to find ways to recognize and support lifelong, monogamous, same gender relationships and hold them publicly accountable.

What is the content of the first resolution about bearing one another’s burdens and “bound conscience?”

The assembly’s first action was to vote by a 78 percent majority to require that, in the implementation of any resolutions on this matter, the ELCA would commit itself “to bear one another’s burdens, love the neighbor and respect the bound consciences” of all. This sets a distinctive commitment for how the ELCA will move forward together, as was exemplified by the discussion at the assembly. As Dr. Ishmael Noko, the general secretary of The Lutheran World Federation observed during his speech, the members of the assembly spoke about these controversial issues with dignity and respect for each other in “a way that brought honor” to the ELCA and its witness to the world.

What about resolution #2 regarding same-gender couples?

After a great deal of passionate, but respectful debate, the assembly recorded a 60 percent vote that the ELCA should commit itself to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable couples who wish to have lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships.

Does this mean the ELCA has endorsed the blessing of same-gender unions?

No, the assembly was not asked to consider and thus took no action concerning a rite of blessing. The assembly’s action means that a congregation, however, is permitted to find ways to hold publicly accountable same-gender relationships that intend to be lifelong and monogamous and to surround these couples and their families with prayer and support in a variety of ways. The action adopted does not require any congregation to do so.

On August 6, 2013, ordained ELCA pastors in Minnesota will have legal authority to marry same-sex couples. However, it is the congregation’s decision as to whether their pastor will preside at same-sex marriages. The decision should be addressed prayerfully in the context of the congregation’s ministry. This is not a decision that can or will be made by the Synod Bishop or Synod Council, though the synod office welcomes conversation and consultation. Specifically, I commend to you a document created by the ELCA Task Force on Communal Discernment, most easily available at the SW Minnesota Synod blog site. It will help you think about your options as you shape conversations in your congregation in formal and informal ways. In particular, pastors and church councils may want to discern whether they address this question immediately or wait until a specific marriage request is made.

Finally, if you would like to visit about these things, please give us a call. We will soon gather for our Synod Assembly – and have time for further conversation. For now, please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.

May the Pentecost Spirit fill us with love and good courage!

In Christ,
Bishop Ann M. Svennungsen
Minneapolis Area Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

 

 

Letter from the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod on the Moore Disaster – Bp. Michael Girlinghouse

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I sent Bp. Girlinghouse a note on our behalf.  I said we are grieving and mourning at a distance. We pray God would give them strength, peace and courage for the hard work for the coming days.

Moore Tornado Pastoral Letter

We will be sending a disaster gift as authorized by our synod council tomorrow.  Designate gifts for your synod to pass on to the disaster response.   Thanks.

Bishop Jon

 

Bp. Tom Aitkin’s Letter to the NE MN Synod

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A Pastoral Letter to our Rostered Leaders from Bishop Aitken

 

May 15, 2013

 

Grace to you and Peace in our Risen Lord,

 

Encouragement

I write to you as a follow up to my May 14   Northeastern Minnesota website’s on- line article.   In the spirit of pastoral encouragement with regard to the decisions this week in Minnesota regarding civil marriage for our gay and lesbian sisters and brothers, I offer these thoughts:

 

Love Like Jesus!  Care for each other!

“Love like Jesus” is not merely some kind of slogan, nor even just a last year’s emphasis in our Synod – but in fact the ancient mark of what it means to be a Christian since the day our Lord began calling disciples.  To be a disciple of Jesus means to watch him at work, follow his lead and live like him, who proclaimed  ‘love God and love your neighbor’ as a twin command.   While there are differences among us as Lutherans and other Christians concerning how to deal with loving, faithful, monogamous same-gender couples, all Christians want to love like our Lord as we live into the future.  There will be various ways to live out that love command.  We have learned to live in a big tent and we can continue to do this.

 

Congregational Decision

We stand ready to talk things through with you here in the Synod Office about how you might navigate through the issues of the new law permitting civil marriage of same-gendered people beginning August 1st, 2013.   As I said in my online piece, decisions to recognize support and hold publically accountable same-gender relationships is entrusted to congregations.  What that means in practical terms, is that there will need to be conversations between pastors  and church councils if a request come to the pastor to officiate at a ceremony of a same-gendered couple.   That will mean work – but it is good work.    Pastors are not “free agents” to officiate secretly somewhere.  Transparency and respectful conversation is the key here.   The conscience of the pastor needs to be respected as well as everyone else in these discussions.

 

Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust   During conversations about this issue it would be good to look again at our Social Statement “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (you can get it online at the ELCA website or our website, http://www.nemnsynod.org) pages 18-21.  Our Social Statement neither endorses nor forbids same sex marriage but “commits itself to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publically accountable lifelong monogamous, same-gender relationships.” It acknowledges the diversity in our congregations regarding same-sex relationships, recognizes the historic tradition of marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman,  and goes on to say (page 18) “On the basis of conscience-bound faith, some are convinced that the scriptural witness does not address the context of sexual orientation and committed relationships that we experience today.  They believe that the neighbor and community are best served when same-gender relationships are lived out with lifelong and monogamous commitments that are held to the same rigorous standards, sexual ethics, and status as heterosexual marriage.  The surround such couples and their lifelong commitments with prayer to live in ways that glorify God, find strength for the challenges that will be faced, and serve others.  They believe same-gender couples should avail themselves of social and legal support for themselves, their children, and other dependents and seek the highest legal accountability available for their relationships.”

 

Ordained ministers in congregations have authority to marry as part of their calls, when authorized by state law, but church wide policy does not determine whom a pastor may marry.  The decisions of how to recognize support, and hold publically accountable same-gender relationships is entrusted to congregations.  The decision should be addressed prayerfully in the context of the congregation’s ministry, rather than by the action of a bishop or Synod Council.  Consultation among congregational leaders and the synod bishop is appropriate. No Rite or Liturgy for the blessing of unions or marriage os same-gender couples exists in the ELCA but celebrations of such relationships can be drawn from those who have done them well in the past, emphasizing always, the life-long intents embedded in our decisions as a church

 

 

I offer a great resource to you:  Talking Together as Christians About Tough Social Issues, from our ELCA available for downloading at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Moral-Deliberation.aspx  This resource is the one I offered at our Bishop’s convocation on Moral Deliberation in March.  It has been used effectively by many! It has integrity because it urges humility and respect for all involved. .  I urge you to avoid the knee-jerk reaction of jumping to some kind of vote on a proposed policy. Live gracefully and faithfully, just as you do with all issues that arise in your congregation.  If you want to talk things through – I’m here for you, give me a call.

 

 

God has called us to be light in the world God has given us, not in some imaginary one. Take courage.   Jesus was the most down-to-earth person ever, living out God’s love for all right where he lived.  We are joined to him and his work of reconciliation.  Just a week ago at our Synod Assembly we lifted up the theme verse from 2 Corinthians 5:17 “If anyone is in Christ there is a new creation.”  Now is the time to believe it and live the tremendous promise meant by this for the sake of the world.

 

+Bishop Thomas M. Aitken

 

Stewardship – Routine Maintenance

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Stewardship of our congregation’s life requires regular attention to areas that are not so exciting, but help our communities of faith steward the Gospel effectively.   So if you are looking for places to do some routine maintenance so that your community of faith keeps moving along here are a few with links to get more help.  These are simple steps that will help….

Finances – If you have not taken time to look at your financial controls and procedures. I encourage you to do so. Here is a helpful link for your Finance Committee or Treasurer to use to get this work moving forward.

 “Church Renewal Requires Property Renewal” – This was the name of an article on property that showed up in a blog I follow. We often spend too much energy on buildings in our missional planning, but the author makes some fine points.  I will add one, if you have prints on your walls that have faded from the color twenty years ago to a mild green version, please find new versions of the print to put in the frame. Young families and guests will notice the faded artwork and wonder if the congregation is fading away as well. Christ in Cottonwood is a great example of new art serving the mission of their congregation. I know I am overly aware of art since I am married to an artist, but the mix of art and design at Christ in Cottonwood says this congregation is alive and in touch with people of this time.

Constitutional Hygiene – I know it is as much fun as having your teeth cleaned, but there is a reason you have your teeth cleaned and a reason constitutions should be updated. Contact Pr. Andrea on our staff if you need help or call the office (507-637-3904) to connect with a member of the Policies and Procedure Committee of your synod council. Here is a link to help you get started from the ELCA page.  The link also shares other information that might help you in your planning as well.