The latest on the "process"

Seventeen ELCA theologians have signed on to a "Statement of Theological and Pastoral Concern" which urges the Church Council (meeting this weekend) to reject the Task Force's Report. A news article about this is here - apparently ELCA.org is down at this point in time. The signatories read like a who's who of North American Lutheran confessional/evangelical catholic theology, including Braaten, Jenson, Benne, etc. Notable in her inclusion is Jean Bethke Elshtain - I didn't know she was ELCA! She is also the only woman to sign.

I have searched in vain for an online copy of the statement. News stories abound, but nowhere can the complete document be found.

Another notable development: there are rumblings from the Task Force itself that their next assignment, developing a Social Statement on sexuality, may be an impossible job. I will edit post and link to ELCA News on the subject as soon as the site is back up.

Most gracious God, we pray for your holy catholic church: fill it with all truth and in all truth, with all peace; where it is corrupt, purge it; where it is in error, direct it; where anything is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen and confirm it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, heal it and unite it in your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Edit (21:13 on 5 March): Here is a link to the ELCA News article on the "Statement Of...Concern," and here is an article regarding the daunting job the Task Force has ahead of it (a social statement). The first five paragraphs are the key, in which Bishop Payne admits that there was frank discussion on whether or not the task force can come up with something in two years.