Bishop Pryse's Pastoral Letter (re: Reconciled in Christ Motion)

March 21, 2003

Dear friends in Christ,

Grace and peace be unto you in these concluding days of our Lenten pilgrimage!

I am writing to you on behalf of our Synod Council to discuss an important matter that has come before us. In July of last year, delegates to our biennial Synod Assembly adopted the following resolution:

That the Eastern Synod in convention 2004 vote on adopting the Lutherans Concerned North America "Reconciling in Christ" statement entitled "The Affirmation of Welcome", and that the Eastern Synod Council encourage learning, education, discussion and dialogue on this issue throughout the synod during the next biennium.

Reconciling in Christ is a programme sponsored by an independent organization called Lutherans Concerned. The designation of "Reconciled in Christ" is assigned by this organization to congregations and synods that affirm the text of a specifically worded statement of welcome to gay and lesbian persons.

The full text of the Affirmation of Welcome reads as follows:

As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people of our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.

We affirm, with the apostle Paul, that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female"(Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends also to those whose affectional orientation is toward a person of the same gender.

Because gay and lesbian persons are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:

• that gay and lesbian people share with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;
• that gay and lesbian people are welcome within the membership of this congregation (organization or synod) upon making the same affirmation of faith that all other people make; and
• that as members of this congregation (organization or synod), gay and lesbian people are expected and encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of this congregation (organization or synod)

This resolution challenges us to reflect on an important issue and has drawn significant interest from a broad cross-section of our synodical membership. As I have visited with the pastors and congregations of our synod over the past several months, I have heard the following questions raised on several occasions and thought it best to try and address them in the context of a pastoral letter.

1. What are our church's present policies that relate specifically to this question?

• In 1970, the Lutheran Church in America adopted a social statement entitled A Statement on Sex, Marriage, and Family. This statement speaks specifically of homosexuality in only one paragraph.

Scientific research has not been able to provide conclusive evidence regarding the causes of homosexuality. Nevertheless, homosexuality is viewed biblically as a departure from the heterosexual structure of God's creation. Persons who engage in homosexual behavior are sinners only as are all other persons - alienated from God and neighbor. However, they are often the special and undeserving victims of prejudice and discrimination in law, law enforcement, cultural mores, and congregation life. In relation to this area of concern, the sexual behavior of freely consenting adults in private is not an appropriate subject for legislation or police action. It is essential to see such persons as entitled to understanding and justice in church and community.

• In 1993 the ELCIC National Convention affirmed that the practice of this church is as follows: "A self-declared and practicing homosexual is not to be approved for ordination and, if already ordained, is not to be recommended for call."
• In 1999 the ELCIC National Convention affirmed the actions of the National Church Council in taking steps to create an environment that assists the church in becoming a more inclusive and welcoming place for gay and lesbian persons.
• Individual clergy have no authority to conduct civil marriages except as authorized to do so by their ecclesiastical authorities. This church has not taken any action to authorize its clergy to perform same sex blessings. As such, any clergyperson choosing to conduct same sex blessings, regardless of any civil authorizations that may come into effect, would be subject to ecclesiastical discipline.

2. How will our action on this question impact our church's present policies concerning this issue?

It is my opinion that the adoption or defeat of this particular resolution would not alter any of our present policies concerning homosexuality. Members of the synod may, however, wish to re-visit some or all of those policies at some time in the future, regardless of the action taken on this particular motion.

3. What options will the assembly have when it is time to deal with this question?

The options will be the same as those that exist for all resolutions. The synod can choose to adopt the motion, defeat the motion, amend the motion or substitute an alternate motion.

4. What responsibilities does a delegate have in deciding how to vote on this, or any other contentious question?

Our constitutional documents describe the church as an entity that exists in many different expressions, each of which serves a particular purpose and carries its own inherent integrity. In addition to its local, congregational expression, the Lutheran church also exists in its synodical, national and international expressions. Each is closely related, but also serves a particular function in expressing the fullness of what it means to be the body of Christ.

Hence, although delegates to church-wide gatherings would do well to consider the opinions of their fellow congregants, it is important to remember that decision-making authority has been "delegated" to these persons by their respective sending bodies. As such, it is their job to participate fully in the deliberations of the assembly and then to make the most responsible and faithful decisions they can. It is inappropriate to ask delegates to participate in church-wide deliberations with the understanding that they are obligated to vote in a certain way at the conclusion of those deliberations.

5. What is the Synod Council doing to encourage learning, education, discussion and dialogue on this issue throughout the synod during the next biennium?

Synod Council is extremely pleased by the many initiatives that have already taken place across the synod to provide forums and opportunities for discussion. We encourage members of synod to continue such initiatives and invite individual members, congregations and conferences to seek every opportunity to engage in meaningful study, reflection and conversation on this issue.

Later this month, the Synod Council will launch a special website wherein members of our synod can share resources related to this issue. Individuals will be given the opportunity to identify up to three resources. Each listing would need to identify the name and congregational membership of the person making the listing, and include the title, author, publisher, as well as a one-paragraph annotation for each resource. Material will be screened to ensure a common format. In the fall, hard copies of the accumulated listing will be made available.

Synod Council has also produced a series of suggested questions that interested groups can use to help guide their discussions. These questions will also be made available through the synod website or by request from the synod office.

In March 2004 the Synod Council will articulate a recommended course of action to the 2004 Synod Assembly with regard to this question. This recommendation, along with appropriate supporting documentation will then be widely distributed within the constituency in advance of the Synod Assembly.

6. How do we develop and maintain lines of communication between members who hold quite different views of what constitutes a faithful and scriptural response to homosexuality?

First and foremost, we shouldn't be afraid to enter into the conversation! Over the eons, God's people have encountered many difficult questions. The pages of Scripture and church history describe numerous situations where we have had to wrestle with deeply contentious issues. You name it and we've argued about it, and often on several occasions! But that's something that a living, breathing community needs to do if it is going to live in communion with a living, breathing God. The relationship is dynamic; it moves and grows and develops. As such, our stated understandings concerning that relationship will also need to be re-articulated and will sometimes change and shift.

Second, we need to listen to one another's testimonies in a spirit of humility that is open to receiving new insights and refuses to impute ill motives to those with whom we might presently disagree. Speak respectfully. Speak to one another and not about one another. Be open to the possibility of experiencing new insights. To paraphrase the writer Anne Lamott, we can safely assume we've created God in our own image when it turns out that he agrees with all of the things that we already believe! If we are truly open to hearing God's voice, we must also be open to the possibility of having our hearts and minds changed by that encounter.

Finally, we need to articulate a shared commitment to remaining in fellowship with one another, even in the midst of significant disagreement. Our differences need to be addressed on the common ground of a shared understanding that our continued commitment to the life of this church doesn't require us to be in full agreement on every issue of faith and life.

I thank you for taking the time to read this letter and for considering some of these questions. Although they may well be difficult and sometimes challenging, I believe that our responsible engagement of those questions bears the potential to provide welcome gifts of animation and renewal in our life together.

May God grant us a restorative celebration of Holy Week and Easter and bless us with generous gifts of wisdom, insight and understanding as we seek to discern a faithful course of action.

With all best wishes,

Bishop Michael J. Pryse
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