R-1
A Resolution to Determine the Northern Illinois Synod
Assembly’s Opinion Concerning the ELCA Church Council’s
Resolution on the Task Force Recommendations

WHEREAS, in response to the Seventh Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), meeting in August 2001, which directed the church: 1) to study homosexuality with reference to two issues—the blessing of same sex unions and the ordination, consecration, and commissioning of people in committed same-sex unions; and 2) to develop a social statement on sexuality, the Church Council of the ELCA bundled the two resolutions and established the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality; and

WHEREAS, the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality has since forwarded three recommendations in its report to the Church Council; and

WHEREAS, the Church Council has, meeting in April 2005, duly considered the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality recommendations, and has responded, forwarded and recommended adoption of three resolutions to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly; and

WHEREAS the Conference Deans of the Northern Illinois Synod believe it is important to the life of the church to engage in open and honest discussion, as well as to honor our partnership in ministry with all the expressions of the ELCA by transmitting the Northern Illinois Synod’s opinion concerning each of the resolutions; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the 2005 Northern Illinois Synod Assembly after discussing the three resolutions forwarded by the Church Council to the Churchwide Assembly, while in the Quasi Committee of the whole (which is a device that enables the full Assembly to give detailed consideration to a matter informally), will for the purpose of informing the Churchwide Assembly of its opinion concerning each of the three resolutions, and to poll the Assembly as to whether the voting members agree, disagree, or are unsure of two positions referred to in the third resolution from the ELCA Church Council, and vote by written ballot either yea, in favor or nay, opposed to each resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the results of the vote by written ballot shall be reported to the 2005 Northern Illinois Synod Assembly and transmitted by memorial to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.

Submitted by the Northern Illinois Synod Conference Deans
Contact Person: Pastor Peter Holmer
Date Submitted: May 5, 2005

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Action of the Resolution Committee:
Date of Action: May 28, 2005 Action Taken: Recommend the Resolution.
(Resolution adopted by the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly, Plenary session 1, Friday, June 17, 2005.
Poll results: Resolution 1, 474 ballots, 380 yea, 88 nay, 6 abstentions. Resolution 2, 471 ballots, 369 yea, 97 nay, 5 abstentions. Resolution 3, 469 ballots, 235 yea, 229 nay, 5 abstentions. Position 1, 473 ballots, 146 agree, 229 disagree, 94 not sure. Position 2, 471 ballots, 259 agree, 152 disagree, 56 not sure.)