 On Friday, Aug. 21, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved a series of changes in ministry policies that open the ministry of the church to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships.Following these historic votes, Bishop Claire S. Burkat issued the following pastoral message to the Synod:
Our
Lord Jesus Christ said, "You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with your soul and with all your
mind. This is the greatest and first commandment, and the second is like it;
you shall love your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:36-39
After
years of deliberation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has
adopted ministry policies, which I support, and that will allow congregations
to recognize and welcome the spiritual gifts of gay and lesbian leaders. As we
attempt to live into a process that, for some, will be a welcome change, and
for others will be a profound disappointment, I pray the Holy Spirit will guide
us and bless us.
Our
church has accomplished a remarkable process of careful, respectful, and
sensitive listening, even though this issue is very difficult to
reconcile. For this reason, we
agreed as an assembly to commit ourselves "to bear one another's burdens, love
the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of all." It is evident that faithful people are
not in agreement on the issue of recognizing, supporting, and holding
accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships and whether these
people should be allowed to serve as rostered leaders of the church. We have
agreed in principle that no congregation will be forced to recognize same
gender partnerships or call ministers in them, but those wishing to recognize
such partnerships and call people who are in them will be allowed to do so.
We
have agreed to find ways to allow congregations who choose to recognize,
support, and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender
relationships. Further, we have
agreed to find a way for such people to serve as rostered leaders in this
church.
This
is a change in our church culture that will take time, patience, and
discernment to live into. There are congregations that are not ready or willing
to accept this change. The synod
will not impose any leader on a congregation.
As
one of the first women ordained in the Lutheran church in the 1970's, I know
what it is like to be excluded from opportunities for ministry. I know from experience that change and
acceptance take time, patience, and openness to new expressions of ministry. Once again the church is challenged to
live into a significant change. My prayer is for us to move forward with love
and respect for one another.
+ Bishop Claire S. Burkat
21 August 2009
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