The 2009 Churchwide Assembly
voted 676-338 on Aug. 19 to adopt its 10th social statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and
Trust. The statement required a 2/3 majority to pass and was adopted by a vote
of exactly 66.67% in favor.
Following the action Bishop Claire S. Burkat of the Southeastern
Pennsylvania Synod released the following statement:
I
am pleased that our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has crafted
and adopted a very important and comprehensive social statement on human
sexuality. Social statements in
the ELCA serve as guidelines for public policy and church teaching. I commend it to our people and our
congregations as a teaching document and a conversation starter on a most
difficult topic.
I
am pleased that our Lutheran denomination has respectfully engaged in prayerful
and faithful deliberation despite the emotions that arise around the subject of
sexuality.
The
social statement, Human Sexuality: Gift
and Trust, celebrates God's gift of human sexuality. At its best sexuality is loving, life-giving,
self-giving, faithful, committed and a blessing to families and society. At its worst, sexuality can be hurtful
and exploitive.
Sexuality
is a gift and a trust. Because of
God's unfailing and trustworthy love for us we are called to love one another
as God has loved us. This is a
great trust. Betrayal of trust has
brought heartache and damage to individual relationships and to communities.
This
social statement addresses the many issues of human sexuality which are already
operative in society. First it
lifts up scriptural and doctrinal foundations for God's good gift of human
sexuality. It supports loving
families as a ground and source for social trust. It emphasizes the protection of children and youth. It discusses gender identity. It lifts up friendships as good and
encourages social support for healthy friendships.
The
statement upholds marriage as a normative lifelong covenant and as the highest
binding commitment for a relationship.
It also acknowledges that marriage provides social and legal protection
for relationships. Our church
opposes non-monogamous, promiscuous, or casual sexual relationships of any
kind. As sinful and forgiven
people, we cannot on our own live as faithfully as God intends. We need help from God's Spirit and
support from one another.
This
social statement identifies issues of homosexual orientation and same-gender
relationships, particularly lifelong and monogamous relationships. Our church recognizes that consensus
does not exist concerning this issue, even after years of thoughtful,
respectful, and faithful study, prayer, and conversation.
The
social statement encourages us to live out our faith and to respect the
consciences of those with whom we disagree as we seek to live faithfully together. During this eight-year process of
developing the social statement, we have practiced living together faithfully
in the midst of our disagreements.
As bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, I am proud and pleased
our denomination has modeled open, respectful, and candid conversation on a
difficult, sensitive, and complex issue.
We have discovered that our unity in the gospel of Jesus Christ does not
require uniformity, but allows us to live together faithfully.
+ Bishop Claire S. Burkat
19 August 2009
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