Discussion begins on the sexuality issue.

This afternoon we had a “quasi committee of the whole” during which people could come to the microphones and speak for up to two minutes on issues related to the sexuality recommendations. I kept a tally of those for and against the recommendations and made some notes on what people said in support of their positions. Some of the people who came up to speak were not obviously for or against the recommendations, but sounded more for, so that is the column in which I placed them. The people who were against the recommendations were clearly against them. I had sixteen tally marks in each column.

Here is a sample of the reasoning of the people who are against the recommendations:

There is no basis in scripture for making the changes.

We need to provide a clear, loving and consistent message for our youth rather than conflicting counsel based on what church they belong to.

There is no correlation in making a case for these changes and making a case for the ordination of women.

The sign of a dysfunctional church is the inability to defend the obvious.

Is homosexual behavior a sin? Can those who live in persistent unrepentant sin serve as leaders in the church?

Because of the conservatism of the southern hemisphere and ethnic communities in North America, we risk alienating the very populations we want to reach if we pass the recommendations.

There is an important difference between Jesus affirming us and leaving us as we are vs. addressing our sin and changing us.

Resolution 2 is unclear. Some people think it means no blessings of same sex unions are permitted while others see pastoral care as giving permission to perform same sex blessings.

This will impact the global church – the entire church is impacted.

Personal story about same sex attractions and the ability to say no to them because of church teachings, resulting in, years later, a successful marriage and two children.

The ten commandments help us to order our lives so we can bring the good news to others.

There is no basis in scripture for the blessing of same sex unions; we need clarification of the meaning of pastor care in this context.

With all that is going on in the world (terrorism, hunger, etc.), not to mention that the ELCA has a fraction of the missionaries on the field they had in the 1980’s, membership is falling everywhere, and the ELCA leadership chooses to focus its energies on changing the meaning of scripture to accommodate one percent of its membership.

The future of the church is brown. The southern hemisphere is on fire evangelistically; we are a tired, aging (white) church. We don’t want to miss our date with destiny because we choose to alienate those we hope to share the gospel with in the south.

We need to embrace the life changing values of Jesus Christ. We need to put aside the standards of the secular world.

Robert Benne pointed out that resolutions 2 and 3 are not mild compromises moving the church a little to the left of center. These are a tectonic change, a move away from 2000 years of Christian moral teaching.

Here is a sample of the reasoning of the people who support the recommendations:

A representative of the Lutheran Youth Organization stated their position from their assembly in 2003 (support same sex blessings and ordination of non-celibate, partnered homosexuals) and asked what we were going to do with that.

When we bless people, we are praying for them. When we bless same sex unions, we are praying for people. Are we blessing sin or sinners? In reference to concerns about the effects of our vote on the greater church, perhaps we are being called to bring a gift of love, acceptance and prayer to the greater church.

Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered are people too. They have lives, are called by God; it is not all about sex. Who has the right to tell me that because of who I love my call from God is not valid?

The Bible tells us to stone disobedient children. I refuse to be banished from this church.

We started ordaining women and allowing divorced pastors in certain cases to remain in ministry for compelling reasons. Seven statements in scripture speak against homosexuality. Jesus said to forgive 70 x 7 times.

Reparative therapy did not work for me. I learned after many years to accept myself as a gay man and gay pastor.

My two sons are loved by their mother and God. They were raised in the church with the same experiences but are not equally welcome in their church. One is straight and one is gay.

We have a pastor of German descent who pastors a church in San Francisco. He appreciates “good Lutheran theology” and the tension of the idea of both/and. He serves in a diverse setting and wants to know “What is the good news I can bring back to my church in San Francisco?”

The words of the Bible are not always proclaiming the Word of God. Evangelism was used as a method of pacifying the slaves.

Request for Herbert Chilstrom to speak – overruled because he has the same right to speak as everyone else if he so desires.

Personal story about a daughter who was a pastoral candidate who fell in love with a woman.

We are stifling the very gifts we offer to a significant part of the body of Christ.

Example of southern hemisphere church that tolerates polygamy.

Apparently there was some discrepancy in the order people arrived at the microphones and how they were listed on the bishop’s screen. When time was up, one man called a point of order and pitched a fit that he never got to speak even though some people who arrived at other microphones after he arrived at his did get to speak. He shouted, “I have been waiting eight years to address this assembly!”

Tomorrow should be interesting.

(It looked like Richard Johnson of ALPB was taking notes like I was, so you might find more detailed summaries of comments over there.)

---Katie