My comments on Recommendation One

I sent a letter to our Synod Council (and also to the Presiding Bishop, Vice-President of Church Council, etc.) regarding the Recommendations of the ELCA Task Force on Sexuality. Recommendation One reads:

Because the God-given mission and communion we share is at least as important as
the issues about which faithful conscience-bound Lutherans find themselves so
decisively at odds, the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality recommends that
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America concentrate on finding ways to live
together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements.

A relevant section of the commentary reads:

If the assembly approves this first recommendation, it is
declaring that this issue does not have to be church dividing.

Following were my comments:

In Recommendation One, the “Commentary” reads in part: “If the assembly approves this first recommendation, it is declaring that this issue does not have to be church dividing.” If the issues of blessing same-sex unions or rostering individuals who are sexually active within a committed same-sex relationship is solemnly defined as “not church dividing,” then to me the burden of proof has suddenly shifted to those who would oppose a change in policy. Why, if this issue is not church dividing, should anyone oppose allowing changes in the policy?

Moreover, I am concerned about the first statement in the Recommendation: “...the God-given mission and communion we share is at least as important as the issues about which faithful conscience-bound Lutherans find themselves so decisively at odds...” On the face of it, the response to this phrase ought to be and is a hearty Amen! However, I would also submit that in a world that is saturated with sexuality, in a world where people look to the Church of Jesus Christ for guidance and the Word of God regarding sexual conduct, the matters on which we disagree are not incidental to the mission we are engaged in together. The questions we are facing are not on the level of whether or not flowers should be put on the altar or even on the level of whether a new service ought to be added with guitars and drums. The questions we are facing are fundamental questions regarding what the Gospel means when confronted with a particular situation.

The questions should and must be asked: When we reach out in mission to the world God made, what is the content of our proclamation of Christ to those who seek answers concerning human sexuality? How can the Church give two conflicting answers to the questions concerning same-sex genital relationships and still claim to be “one in mission?” Moreover, do the differing answers we give on these matters illuminate fundamentally differing understandings of the mission we have been given from God?