Wednesday's breakfast and the following conversation allowed for us to be assigned to tables with people we would not have chosen. Each of us had a number on our nametag, assigned along with our prayer partner and several other pairs of prayer partners, which put us at tables with many people we did not know.
I was very annoyed about this at the beginning. I tried to have a good attitude, but as soon as we actually spoke up about how we felt, it became clear that this conversation on sexuality would be no different from many of the floor debates on sexuality - tense, divided, and not collegial or civil at all.
The quasi committee of the whole time (beginning at 8am) provided some directed questions for us to engage in discussion regarding ministry policy changes. We each took two minutes to describe our response to the policy changes. Our table was very much like the ELCA and very much like the task force (according to one of our table members who was on the task force): we had widely divergent and deeply held opinions regarding sexuality. We had a man who realized that by the time he got home his congregation already would have probably started talks to leave the ELCA. We had a pastor who said he might have to resign some of his synod positions (at least) if the ministry policies passed. We had a young woman who was disturbed to hear the arguments against gay and lesbian people, when for her peers, they would be completely accepted. We had me, who talked openly about serving a congregation with a significant gay and lesbian population, and all that includes. And we had a task force member, who could help us interpret what the task force's discussion and conversation had been. Another woman came up to me later and said that when she came to this assembly, she was ready to vote no on the ministry policies, but she has been convinced through the Spirit and her work here to vote otherwise.
By the end, I was giving thanks for the opportunity. Although I don't suppose I convinced any of those people of anything, I felt good for the opportunity to show my position and witness as a grace-filled, non-anxious, welcoming presence. I spoke directly to the people who felt alienated from the church and told them that I was willing to try to work within the same church body that they were. The male pastor I described above could not say the same to me. And yet, when asked at the end who would pray, I gracefully gave him the opportunity to pray rather than engaging in a tug of war over who would have the chance to do so and thanked him for his prayer. I pray that my witness at that table was a loving, caring, graceful one.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Press Release from Goodsoil regarding the human sexuality social statement:
Press Release Goodsoil celebrates the passage of the Social Statement on Human
Sexuality (including great quotes from Emily Eastwood, LC/NA exec director):
Goodsoil celebrates the passage today of the Social Statement on Human
Sexuality, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," at the biennial assembly of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Speaking for Goodsoil, Emily Eastwood, Executive Director, Lutherans
Concerned/North America, said, "This is a day of progress and compromise. By a
2/3 majority the church has supported families of all kinds and has acknowledged
without judgment the wide variety of views within the ELCA regarding lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusion. The document recognizes the
ministries of congregations which conduct blessings of same gender relationships
and same gender marriages where such marriages are legal. The social statement
is tolerant of our differences both in scriptural interpretation and practice.
The social statement supports our unity without requiring uniformity. There is
still much work to do, but the door to full inclusion of LGBT members and their
families is now most definitely open.
"The social statement now forms the basis for policy and advocacy on issues
related to families and sexuality both for ministry and advocacy in church and
society. We are encouraged and hopeful that on Friday this foundation will
result in the church's elimination of the current ban on ministers in committed
same gender relationships. "
The Social Statement now serves as a teaching document that describes the world
and society that the ELCA lives and works in to provide ministry and spread the
Gospel. The Social Statement provides the basis and guidance for the
formulation of policy and the creation of programs.
The Social Statement was eight years in preparation and represents the work and
contributions of thousands of Lutherans. Contentious because of its subject and
content, the Social Statement now guides the work and understanding of the
church as it relates to the sexual component of the lives of everyone the church
reaches.
We celebrate in particular the emphasis of the Social Statement on the
centrality of family in the life of the church and society - all families
without differentiation. For too long the church has failed to recognize the
centrality of family and acceptance in the lives of its LGBT members. Now, the
healing of the rift that leads to wholeness can begin.
Goodsoil commits itself to working within and with the church as it ends its
reticence to speak boldly on full inclusion as matter of the Gospel, and to
celebrate the gifts that come with full participation of all its members,
regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Our job is to assist the
church in its move from tolerance to celebration.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Wednesday at the churchwide assembly
Today was the day we dealt with the social statement and as much related business as we could. As we began the plenary this afternoon, we were informed that a tornado had touched down a few blocks away and we were being asked to stay in the assembly hall for our safety for the next half hour. After that initial shock wore off, we realized that we were just fine and we needed to get working on the work of the assembly. Tornado sirens sounded as Diane Jacobsen (prof from Luther Seminary) presented a Bible study on the story of the prodigal son, using a framework from Mark Allan Powell and introducing the four hallmarks of the Book of Faith studies.
We were still being encouraged to stay in the assembly hall, as the tornado warning was extended. (People were even brought in from other parts of the building for their own safety.) When we got back to work, we dealt with several attempted amendments to the human sexuality social statement. There were a lot of them, but not all were considered. An Ad Hoc committee had suggested passage of a few and defeat of most of them. People calling the question or attempting to manipulate the process in other ways (ruling amendments out of order, moving to postpone discussion, moving all matters before the house) were abundant.
A tornado apparently did touch down at the corner of the convention center. That was probably during the time when it sounded like Noah would be calling for the Ark at any point.
I'll write more later.
We were still being encouraged to stay in the assembly hall, as the tornado warning was extended. (People were even brought in from other parts of the building for their own safety.) When we got back to work, we dealt with several attempted amendments to the human sexuality social statement. There were a lot of them, but not all were considered. An Ad Hoc committee had suggested passage of a few and defeat of most of them. People calling the question or attempting to manipulate the process in other ways (ruling amendments out of order, moving to postpone discussion, moving all matters before the house) were abundant.
A tornado apparently did touch down at the corner of the convention center. That was probably during the time when it sounded like Noah would be calling for the Ark at any point.
I'll write more later.
from Goodsoil worship service at Central Lutheran Church
Benediction
Like a rock,
God is under our feet.
Like a roof,
God is over our heads.
Like the horizon,
God is beyond us.
Like water in a pitcher,
God is within us, and in the pouring out of us.
Like a pebble in the sea,
we are in God.
Let us go out, in the name of the Trinity of love, to serve and love.
Amen.
Like a rock,
God is under our feet.
Like a roof,
God is over our heads.
Like the horizon,
God is beyond us.
Like water in a pitcher,
God is within us, and in the pouring out of us.
Like a pebble in the sea,
we are in God.
Let us go out, in the name of the Trinity of love, to serve and love.
Amen.
Goodsoil worship service at Central Lutheran Church
Affirmation of Faith
Let us affirm our faith in the triune God, the God of our baptism.
I believe in God,
maker of an unfinished world,
who calls us to participate in bringing about the fullness of Creation.
God, who created abundant resources to provide for all.
God, who has not divided people into rich and poor,
owners and slaves,
nor pitted us against each other because of race, color, social class or sex.
I believe in Jesus Christ
who was ridiculed, tortured, and executed for the sins of humankind.
He has overthrown the rule of evil and injustice
and continues to judge and redeem
the hatred and arrogance of human beings.
I believe in the Spirit of God
whose flame comforts us with divine presence
and causes our hearts to burn
for righteousness and justice.
I believe in the reconciling power of God
in our lives and in the world.
I believe that God, through people,
can bring peace and hope,
justice and equality,
the relief of suffering and pain,
and the final triumph of love and grace. Amen.
Let us affirm our faith in the triune God, the God of our baptism.
I believe in God,
maker of an unfinished world,
who calls us to participate in bringing about the fullness of Creation.
God, who created abundant resources to provide for all.
God, who has not divided people into rich and poor,
owners and slaves,
nor pitted us against each other because of race, color, social class or sex.
I believe in Jesus Christ
who was ridiculed, tortured, and executed for the sins of humankind.
He has overthrown the rule of evil and injustice
and continues to judge and redeem
the hatred and arrogance of human beings.
I believe in the Spirit of God
whose flame comforts us with divine presence
and causes our hearts to burn
for righteousness and justice.
I believe in the reconciling power of God
in our lives and in the world.
I believe that God, through people,
can bring peace and hope,
justice and equality,
the relief of suffering and pain,
and the final triumph of love and grace. Amen.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
interesting people I've met at Churchwide Assembly
Three very interesting people I've met at Churchwide Assembly over the past two days. After meeting these three, I have a lot of hope for the ELCA - both today and in the years to come.
1) Vice President of some synod in Wisconsin. She was outspoken and articulate, passionate about many issues (GLBT welcome and disability concerns among others). She shoots from the hip - she's very direct and not afraid to say what she means.
2) Bishop of a synod in Pennsylvania. One of the few female bishops in the ELCA. She was talking openly about a public conflict with the bishop of a European companion synod. She did not feel fear or anxiety about it, but was ready to engage the bishop as gracefully as she could. She was also just very energizing to talk to, and not at all like a gatekeeper (how I often experience bishops).
3) 18 year old voting member from Wisconsin. He is of British descent and a new convert to the Lutheran church. He has some exciting new opinions about how the ELCA should be organized and the relationship of Goodsoil and CORE. I expect he will accomplish some great things in the ELCA in the years to come. And we need those youth voices to remind us about the truths that we so often forget - like the fact that we don't have to remain organized in the exact same way forever, like the fact that consensus is not possible when we're such a broad denomination.
1) Vice President of some synod in Wisconsin. She was outspoken and articulate, passionate about many issues (GLBT welcome and disability concerns among others). She shoots from the hip - she's very direct and not afraid to say what she means.
2) Bishop of a synod in Pennsylvania. One of the few female bishops in the ELCA. She was talking openly about a public conflict with the bishop of a European companion synod. She did not feel fear or anxiety about it, but was ready to engage the bishop as gracefully as she could. She was also just very energizing to talk to, and not at all like a gatekeeper (how I often experience bishops).
3) 18 year old voting member from Wisconsin. He is of British descent and a new convert to the Lutheran church. He has some exciting new opinions about how the ELCA should be organized and the relationship of Goodsoil and CORE. I expect he will accomplish some great things in the ELCA in the years to come. And we need those youth voices to remind us about the truths that we so often forget - like the fact that we don't have to remain organized in the exact same way forever, like the fact that consensus is not possible when we're such a broad denomination.
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