Presiding Bishop Hanson's
message to rostered leaders regarding the 2007 Churchwide Assembly
August 15, 2007
Dear colleagues in ministry:
I greet you in the name of our crucified and risen Christ. Amen.
The 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly ended last Saturday afternoon.
Some of you were voting members. Others were present as
congregational observers, volunteers, or visitors. Many followed the
assembly via the Internet. Most of you have heard a variety of
reports through the media. Thank you for your interest, involvement,
and sustaining prayers.
As I approach the beginning of a second term, it is in a spirit of
humility and gratitude for the honor of serving as your presiding
bishop. But it is also with the deep conviction that we are called
to share leadership for this church as we are sent into the world in
the power of the Holy Spirit and with the promise of the Gospel.
As ELCA leaders we share responsibility for understanding and
interpreting the actions of the assembly. Both the assembly's work
and how we describe and discuss it become part of our witness to the
world. What do we want our testimony to be?
I want it to be that the living Word of God was at the heart of the
tenth ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The assembly's life and work each
day was centered in worship around the means of grace. We engaged
Scripture through Bible study, prayer, and moments of "dwelling in
the word" -- personal stories about what the Word of God means to
individual members. Paul's invitation in Colossians to "let the word
of Christ dwell in you richly" became a refrain woven throughout the
week.
In fact, one of the assembly's most significant decisions was to
call the entire ELCA to a five-year initiative, "Book of Faith:
Lutherans Read the Bible." As a church body, we are committed to
becoming fluent in the first language of our faith -- the language
of Scripture. We know the power of God's Word not only to convict
and free, but also to reform the church and transform the world. Let
us now build upon the strong foundation of engagement with Scripture
that undergirds this church. We are delighted that Professor Diane
Jacobson will coordinate the project as she continues teaching
half-time at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.
The "Brief Summary of Assembly Actions" (see link below) provides an
overview of the primary actions of the assembly, which included the
election of a new secretary for this church, Mr. David Swartling of
Seattle, Wash.; adoption of the ELCA's tenth social statement, this
one on education; a call for a strategy on HIV and AIDS;
reaffirmation of the "Peace Not Walls" campaign; and commitment to
the funding of this church's mission and ministry as outlined by the
Blue Ribbon Committee on Mission Funding.
We were energized and encouraged by the presence of 100 young
rostered leaders and nearly that many young people. We heard the
witness of partners from around the world. We pondered and
deliberated, we prayed and sang, we listened and laughed, we
worshiped and heard God's Word. There are vital stories of faith and
commitment, many of them overlooked by media reports, woven into
each of the assembly's decisions. They deserve to be told throughout
this church.
It is important that we accurately describe the assembly's various
decisions regarding our current studies on sexuality and standards
for rostered ministries. It is significant that the tone of our
discussions was thoughtful and respectful, reflecting the commitment
made by the 2005 Churchwide Assembly that we "concentrate on finding
ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements ..."
The following summary may inform your discussions:
- The ELCA
Churchwide Assembly rejected resolutions that would have changed
ELCA policy and practice to permit persons in same-gender
relationships to serve as rostered leaders.
- The assembly
affirmed the study process that will lead to the development of
a social statement on human sexuality, voted to share with the
study's task force the synod memorials on this matter, and
directed the task force to address current policies precluding
"practicing homosexual persons" from serving as pastors or
rostered leaders as part of the recommendations it will bring to
the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.
- While voting
on several occasions not to change the ELCA's constitution,
bylaws, or policies, the assembly did take action to pray, urge,
and encourage the leadership of the ELCA to "refrain from or
demonstrate restraint in disciplining" pastors and other
rostered leaders who are "in a mutual, chaste, and faithful
committed same-gender relationship" and are currently serving in
this church, as well as congregations that call such otherwise
qualified candidates.
Let me underscore that this third
action is not a change in the official documents or policies of the
ELCA. Attempts to make such changes were rejected by the assembly.
However, the assembly offered the advice and counsel described above
to bishops and others in positions of authority as they make
pastoral decisions on matters relating to discipline as issues of
human sexuality are being studied throughout the church prior to
action by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The third action does not
bind bishops to follow this requested course; rather, it expresses
the sense of the assembly to encourage restraint in discipline
during this time of deliberation.
As we prepare for a social statement on human sexuality in 2009, it
is essential that leaders of this church invite ELCA members to
participate in the current phase of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality.
The development of social statements is participatory in nature.
Responses to the third study are welcome until November 1, 2007.
Watch for the first draft of the social statement in March 2008.
Please encourage thoughtful response to it. You will find more
information at
www.elca.org/faithfuljourney .
On an afternoon in the middle of the assembly, voting members
participated in a "committee of the whole" discussion. I want to
share with you the compelling image of that discussion from Bishop
Peter Rogness of the Saint Paul Area Synod. He described the long
lines of people at every microphone and then wrote, "Since
[assembly] rules indicate we alternate speaking pro- and con-, a set
of two microphones stands at each station -- one green, one red. I
looked at the microphones closest to me and saw Saint Paul Area
Synod voting members standing in both lines. I was proud of that.
We've been together enough to enjoy and respect each other, and we
went to different lines. And then we worshiped together, ate
together, did other work together. This synod -- and this church --
is not simply a red line synod or a green line synod. We are church
together. We can commit ourselves to living together, faithfully."
You will soon receive in the mail the "Brief Summary of Actions"
from the assembly. The ELCA Web site provides information and photos
from the assembly at
www.elca.org/assembly . In addition, the links that follow will
provide more information about the Churchwide Assembly, which you
are invited to use as resources for your leadership in this sent
church:
Brief summary of actions:
www.elca.org/assembly/summary
MSH sermon:
www.elca.org/assembly/worship/
MSH verbal report:
www.elca.org/assembly/video/070808.html#bishop
I close with deep appreciation for you, for your ministry, and for
our partnership in the mission we share. Yes, we are "marked with
the cross of Christ forever, claimed, gathered, and sent for the
sake of the world." Thanks be to God!
Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop |
