Coming to a synod near you--it started in Metro NY and now it is going to Sierra Pacific (they want to be "partnered")

Resolution: Endorsing Restraint in the Administration of ELCA Policies Applicable to Sexual Minority Persons

Whereas, The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America urged our church to concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreement;and

Whereas, The discussion of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly concerning the ministry of partnered sexual minority persons provided no resolution of the disagreements by the action of a substantial majority; and

Whereas; A significant minority demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the current policy and practice of the ELCA with regard to the service in rostered ministry of partnered sexuality minority persons, though no proposals for exceptions to or alteration of current policy achieved a majority at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly; and

Whereas, It is clear that no resolution of this matter acceptable to all persons is possible at this time; and

Whereas, Service in the rostered ministry of the church is neither a right to be claimed nor a privilege bestowed, rather it is the duty and obligation of both candidates and the church to discern the calling of God for service in the rostered ministry in specific persons; and

Whereas, This vocation is confirmed by call of the church to a specific ministry; and

Whereas, There are many instances where the process of discernment has identified candidates and settings for rostered ministry where the only impediment to the call of the church is the preclusion to service by partnered sexual minority persons as defined in ELCA policy; and

Whereas, Many sexual minority persons, partnered and single, already serve in the rostered ministry in congregations of this church; and

Whereas, There are many instances where congregations have expressed their willingness to receive the ministry of partnered sexual minority leaders; and

Whereas, Rather than limiting ourselves to one resolution of our disagreements, we ought to invest the talents given us in those places where call is extended to and received by partnered sexual minority persons and discern the working of the Spirit through the lived experience of God’s people; and

Whereas, The Rabbi Gamaliel convinced the Sanhedrin not to act against Peter and the apostles saying,:...[If this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them - in that case you may even be found fighting against God![Acts 5:38-39, NRSV]: and

Whereas, The Metropolitan New York Synod (MNYS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, meeting in assembly October 29, 2005, voted to endorse restraint in the Administration of ELCA policies applicable to sexual minority persons and requested other synods to join them in that endorsement; therefore, be it

Resolved, That in furtherance of the goal of finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements, the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly partner with the Metropolitan New York Synod in endorsing and calling for restraint in the administration of those ELCA policies that address the full service of partnered sexual minority persons in rostered ministry, ir order that the ministry of such persons to and with our congregations may be seen and we may discern whether God prospers the work of their hands [Ps. 90:17] and they may be [known] by their fruits [Matthew 7:16,20]; and be it further

Resolved, That the Sierra Pacific Synod join the Metropolitan New York Synod in requesting other synods to join us in endorsing the practice of restraint in the administration of policies applicable only to sexual minority rostered persons as a part of the continuing discernment process of the ELCA so that a number of ministries across the church may be looked to as exemplars through which our synods and the ELCA may evaluate the spiritual health and welfare of congregations and communities served by openly partnered sexual minority ministers; and be it further

Resolved, that in this time of disagreement and discernment all members of the ELCA earnestly pray: Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [Morning and Evening Prayer, LBW Prayer (251)]

Submitted by: Saint Paul, Oakland