We leave today in confidence and honest celebration.
Last night at the Goodsoil Celebration, Lutherans Concerned Executive Director Emily Eastwood told us that she had spoken to the Bishop and that he had said, when asked, that not only should we celebrate, we were commanded to celebrate! Not that the time of empathy and concern for others is over, but it has been a long, long road for the Lutheran LGBT community, and we have worked hard -- not just this week, but for 8 years and even longer. We have won the right to celebrate the arrival of our community into the life of the church. It is sweet, even as it is bittersweet. Yes, it is sweet.
And so we celebrated. We listened to a great band playing traditional hymns (including A Mighty Fortress) in a folksy rock style, we danced, we talked, we laughed, we cried a little more, and in good Lutheran fashion, we ate. It was good.
***
I don't think I've mentioned yet -- we wore colorful shawls all week -- knitted and crocheted by loving, supportive Lutheran hands all over the country. We were wrapped in their prayers as we did our work, and we were invited to take them home after our work was done here. I took two. The one I used for my own work and prayer, and the one I used in support of Goodsoil on the assembly floor. I also haven't mentioned this -- the Goodsoil Legislative Team had a signaling system for allied voting members so that they could navigate the complex voting procedures of amendments to amendments to the main motion and such. Some of the motions might have seemd friendly on the surface but were actually presented by our opponents to dilute or undermine the goal of full inclusion. So, at the direction of the floor leaders, several of us would stand on either side of the visitors section at the back in either a red shawl, which signaled a No vote, or in a yellow shawl, which signaled Yes. I volunteered to be one of the signalers, and it was a privilege to be able to make such a concrete contribution to the proceedings.
At any rate, I'm taking my yellow shawl home as a remembrance of the small part I played in bringing this historic legislation to pass. Every time I look at it, I will think, Yes! We did it! We are all now full participants in the life of the church! Praise God! I think I'll wear it to church for a few weeks, and then on the anniversary of this week each year, so if you see me in bright yellow, you'll know why.
Be prepared, though. Our work of this week is not done. We at Grace will continue to play an active role in the necessary healing and reconciliation process for the church. We talked last night about what we can do. The most agreeable idea was to visit other churches in Houston, starting with congregations where we know there is a contingent of quiet supporters alongside opponents, in order to witness quietly to God's grace and welcome, to pray for change and healing at the local level, and to participate in graceful engagement with anyone who will talk with us.
The process will be slow and painstaking, but we at Grace have been called, through our charter as a Reconciling in Christ church, to be agents of reconciliation to all people. If you are interested in participating with us in this work, talk to me or to Pastor when we get back, and we'll put you on the list. We'll even offer some graceful engagement training of our own, if you'd like.
***
We went out as a full group (minus Hal) last night to celebrate together. We went to a fun British pub on Nicollet Mall, the restaurant strip in downtown Minneapolis. While there, I had a marvelous conversation with a young French tourist who was curious about the Lutheran proceedings. Very well-educated and discerning, a real thinker, he was raised in a very strict and unforgiving religious environment in Paris, and now questions the existence of a gracious God or a loving, inclusive church, at all. It was an honor to be able to tell him about the ELCA -- not just about our recent changes, but about our (by and large) progressive understanding of Scripture as evidence of a God who has loved the creation passionaltely throughout history. He wondered why I needed church when it is possible to love the neighbor even as a secular humanist. I told him that, for me, it is because the music, the ritual, and the community feed me. He could appreciate that. Then he asked me about all of the damage that has been and continues to be done in the name of organized religion. Again, I was able to tell him about God's over-arching grace, and how some of us in religious communities do our best to be that grace to the world, without judgment and self-righteousness. I admitted that, yes, there has been and continues to be a lot of damage done, but that I believe that even more good has been done in the name of Christ than not.
I was keeping the rest of the group waiting, so I had to reluctantly take my leave, but I praised God as I walked back in to them that I had been given the opportunity to witness in such a significant way, and that I had been given the words to speak. Most of all, though, I thanked God that I could present my church in such a positive and grace-full light. What a blessing the church is to me! And what a blessing it can and should be to the world, as well. It's up to us to get the word out. I'm glad that we're doing so well at Grace. It will be good to get home.
Peace,
Laura B
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Rest
A quiet day on the floor, so we slept and did some sightseeing. The drama is over for now, and Goodsoil Central is quiet.
Bridget has rejoined us after several days at a Danish Lutheran convocation somewhere in central Minnesota. We had hoped to have our full Grace contingent together for a final night celebratory dinner, but Hal had to go back to work yesterday. We were never all together here at the same time, but the presence of each was felt throughout, as was your prayerful presence at home.
We do return home tomorrow, leaving after the assembly's closing worship in the morning, and after the noon closing business session.
It has been an exhausting, emotional, and anxiety-filled week, even as we did our best to rely on the movement of the Holy Spirit and on the words of Bishop Hanson's opening sermon which encouraged us to not be victims of fear, but it was hard. It is still a rather anxious time now, even as our celebration continues. The threat of schism still hovers (although I don't personally believe that it will be widespread), and we remain in prayer for those in pain. I look forward to the Bishop's parting words. As I've said before, if any human has the potential to hold this church together, I have full faith that it is he.
This is not the first time, by far, that the Christian communion has faced schism. As far back as the early apostolic church, there were heated disagreements over the outreach to the Gentiles, and yet they held together. In our own time, decisions to support the integration of our churches, the validity of inter-racial marriage, and the ordination of women threatened the Biblical understanding of many Lutherans, and yet we are still here. It is my conviction that, while we may see some people leave the ELCA, the unity of the church will be, by and large, held intact. The bottom line is that we all love this church and what it stands for, or we never would have even gotten to this point. If we did not love this church, people of differing sexual orientations and gender identities and their allies would have left long ago. And I believe that opponents of full inclusion will largely hold on, as well.
My overriding feeling at this point in this assembly's proceedings, even in my somewhat anxious place, is a strong feeling of the Spirit's gentle and loving presence. I believe that God is hurting with us and for us right now, and that the Divine pain will inevitably lead to Divine healing and reconciliation. God is at work here -- I have no doubt of that.
Peace,
Laura B
Bridget has rejoined us after several days at a Danish Lutheran convocation somewhere in central Minnesota. We had hoped to have our full Grace contingent together for a final night celebratory dinner, but Hal had to go back to work yesterday. We were never all together here at the same time, but the presence of each was felt throughout, as was your prayerful presence at home.
We do return home tomorrow, leaving after the assembly's closing worship in the morning, and after the noon closing business session.
It has been an exhausting, emotional, and anxiety-filled week, even as we did our best to rely on the movement of the Holy Spirit and on the words of Bishop Hanson's opening sermon which encouraged us to not be victims of fear, but it was hard. It is still a rather anxious time now, even as our celebration continues. The threat of schism still hovers (although I don't personally believe that it will be widespread), and we remain in prayer for those in pain. I look forward to the Bishop's parting words. As I've said before, if any human has the potential to hold this church together, I have full faith that it is he.
This is not the first time, by far, that the Christian communion has faced schism. As far back as the early apostolic church, there were heated disagreements over the outreach to the Gentiles, and yet they held together. In our own time, decisions to support the integration of our churches, the validity of inter-racial marriage, and the ordination of women threatened the Biblical understanding of many Lutherans, and yet we are still here. It is my conviction that, while we may see some people leave the ELCA, the unity of the church will be, by and large, held intact. The bottom line is that we all love this church and what it stands for, or we never would have even gotten to this point. If we did not love this church, people of differing sexual orientations and gender identities and their allies would have left long ago. And I believe that opponents of full inclusion will largely hold on, as well.
My overriding feeling at this point in this assembly's proceedings, even in my somewhat anxious place, is a strong feeling of the Spirit's gentle and loving presence. I believe that God is hurting with us and for us right now, and that the Divine pain will inevitably lead to Divine healing and reconciliation. God is at work here -- I have no doubt of that.
Peace,
Laura B
The Big Day
Friday. Starting first thing in the morning, the scheduled session on ministry recommendations. There are four of them which it was decided by this assembly are to be considered separately. Before we could even get started on the first one, though, we had to deal with a substitute resolution from the floor which, if passed, would have gutted the positive recommendations altogether, as it called for the assembly to approve language that declared homosexuality a sin. This was blessedly voted down by the assembly by a pretty significant margin, and we moved on to the original resolutions.
The first was stated in this way: "Resolved, that in the implementation of these resolutions, the ELCA commit itself to bear one another's burdens, love the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of all." This passed relatively easily, with most people arguing that those who would oppose full inclusion would most certainly be burdened by the church's decision, and that we must be willing to reach out to each other in love.
The second read: "Resolved, that the ELCA commit itself to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships." This one was much tougher, but after much debate, passed. This resolution does not mean that the church endorses same-gender marriage, but rather that it allows those ELCA churches who wish to do so to bless such unions.
The third (and most controversial), is the one about allowing the rostering of people in same-gender relationships: "Resolved, that the ELCA commit itself to finding a way for people in such publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders of the church." As of the worship and lunch break, debate on this resolution was still not completed, as we returned to that debate after 2 pm, at the next business session.
Eventually, after extended, impassioned debate on both sides, we won full inclusion with the passage of resolutions 3 and 4 (the last being a long implementation process). The debate and the votes, masterfully led by Bishop Hanson, were bracketed by heartfelt prayer and song. When we won, it was rather eerily silent in the assembly hall, as we mutually acknowledged the gravity of what had just happened.
This whole thing has been unexpectedly hard for me, and, I think, for many others on my side of the debate. While I remain firm in the convictions I brought with me to the assembly, listening to the debate has brought something very painful into my awareness.
Early on in the week, Barbara and I had a discussion about the cost of losing this debate -- for both sides. I maintained at the time that the cost was greater for our side than for theirs. That our loss would be a personal, human loss for all of the individuals affected and for those who love them, but that the other side would just be losing an abstract, theological argument. Get over it, already.
I held that opinion loosely until this morning's debate. As much as I've tried to listen openly to the opposition to this point, I've never experienced their very real pain until today, and it was overwhelming to me. These people do not just hold abstract theological positions. For them, following the Bible as they understand it is the core of their faith. It is personal. It is very real -- and emotionally charged. To take a major step away from the foundation of their faith -- to say that what they've always believed the Bible to be saying is wrong -- shakes their world almost beyond recognition. They are, by and large, good, loving, fatihful Lutherans who really do "love the sinner" even as they "hate the sin."
I heard their pain from the microphones today. The pastor who cried as he spoke of his struggle with this issue, as he welcomed LGBT people into his church with an open heart, but simply still can't escape his conviction that homosexuality is sin. He was crying, he said, because he was afraid that he would have to leave the church he loved because it has so thoroughly departed from what he considers accurate Biblical teaching. He was in very real, personal pain -- trying desperately to do the right thing as he felt called to do, but feeling instead that his church is turning its back on him.
Then there was the lay woman who shared that her sister had called her, hysterical, after the sexuality statement vote, declaring that she would just not be able to set foot in a Lutheran church again. The speaker also shared that her father had declared that he would not be able to kneel next to her at the communion rail again. She was crying, too, as she related the loss of her entire family because of these decisions.
While I clearly do not agree with these folks' positions on policy or on the interpretation of Scripture, I still felt their very real pain in my heart and in my gut. It hurt me. I wanted nothing more than to go to them, share Christ's peace with them, and encourage them to engage in healing with me, but I know that time is the only true healer, and that my overtures at this point would be inappropriately premature.
My prayer, then, is that some day we will be able to come together on the common ground of Jesus' grace, and agree to disagree on this, even as we stay in communion with one another. Graceful engagement does not end here at this assembly, I realized. We must remain in full engagement with these hurting people throughout a time of healing, no matter how long that takes.
I agree with retired Presiding Bishop Herbert Chilstrom, who said at Goodsoil's service of hope and healing last night that this is a bittersweet vistory. We need each other in the body of Christ, this church, and someone else's pain is our pain. Let us not, in our celebration, then, ever forget that, and let this prayer for reconciliation always be at the tops of our hearts and our minds.
Peace,
Laura B
The first was stated in this way: "Resolved, that in the implementation of these resolutions, the ELCA commit itself to bear one another's burdens, love the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of all." This passed relatively easily, with most people arguing that those who would oppose full inclusion would most certainly be burdened by the church's decision, and that we must be willing to reach out to each other in love.
The second read: "Resolved, that the ELCA commit itself to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships." This one was much tougher, but after much debate, passed. This resolution does not mean that the church endorses same-gender marriage, but rather that it allows those ELCA churches who wish to do so to bless such unions.
The third (and most controversial), is the one about allowing the rostering of people in same-gender relationships: "Resolved, that the ELCA commit itself to finding a way for people in such publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders of the church." As of the worship and lunch break, debate on this resolution was still not completed, as we returned to that debate after 2 pm, at the next business session.
Eventually, after extended, impassioned debate on both sides, we won full inclusion with the passage of resolutions 3 and 4 (the last being a long implementation process). The debate and the votes, masterfully led by Bishop Hanson, were bracketed by heartfelt prayer and song. When we won, it was rather eerily silent in the assembly hall, as we mutually acknowledged the gravity of what had just happened.
This whole thing has been unexpectedly hard for me, and, I think, for many others on my side of the debate. While I remain firm in the convictions I brought with me to the assembly, listening to the debate has brought something very painful into my awareness.
Early on in the week, Barbara and I had a discussion about the cost of losing this debate -- for both sides. I maintained at the time that the cost was greater for our side than for theirs. That our loss would be a personal, human loss for all of the individuals affected and for those who love them, but that the other side would just be losing an abstract, theological argument. Get over it, already.
I held that opinion loosely until this morning's debate. As much as I've tried to listen openly to the opposition to this point, I've never experienced their very real pain until today, and it was overwhelming to me. These people do not just hold abstract theological positions. For them, following the Bible as they understand it is the core of their faith. It is personal. It is very real -- and emotionally charged. To take a major step away from the foundation of their faith -- to say that what they've always believed the Bible to be saying is wrong -- shakes their world almost beyond recognition. They are, by and large, good, loving, fatihful Lutherans who really do "love the sinner" even as they "hate the sin."
I heard their pain from the microphones today. The pastor who cried as he spoke of his struggle with this issue, as he welcomed LGBT people into his church with an open heart, but simply still can't escape his conviction that homosexuality is sin. He was crying, he said, because he was afraid that he would have to leave the church he loved because it has so thoroughly departed from what he considers accurate Biblical teaching. He was in very real, personal pain -- trying desperately to do the right thing as he felt called to do, but feeling instead that his church is turning its back on him.
Then there was the lay woman who shared that her sister had called her, hysterical, after the sexuality statement vote, declaring that she would just not be able to set foot in a Lutheran church again. The speaker also shared that her father had declared that he would not be able to kneel next to her at the communion rail again. She was crying, too, as she related the loss of her entire family because of these decisions.
While I clearly do not agree with these folks' positions on policy or on the interpretation of Scripture, I still felt their very real pain in my heart and in my gut. It hurt me. I wanted nothing more than to go to them, share Christ's peace with them, and encourage them to engage in healing with me, but I know that time is the only true healer, and that my overtures at this point would be inappropriately premature.
My prayer, then, is that some day we will be able to come together on the common ground of Jesus' grace, and agree to disagree on this, even as we stay in communion with one another. Graceful engagement does not end here at this assembly, I realized. We must remain in full engagement with these hurting people throughout a time of healing, no matter how long that takes.
I agree with retired Presiding Bishop Herbert Chilstrom, who said at Goodsoil's service of hope and healing last night that this is a bittersweet vistory. We need each other in the body of Christ, this church, and someone else's pain is our pain. Let us not, in our celebration, then, ever forget that, and let this prayer for reconciliation always be at the tops of our hearts and our minds.
Peace,
Laura B
Reflections at Day's End
(Note: These next posts are back-logged. Published in order of their writing, but late. For the silence of the last couple of days, I apologize, but the days were so full, I was so exhausted, and the computers were often not available.)
Four full days have passed. We're over the hump -- only three days left. It's been a terribly busy and exhausting time, yet has been as rewarding as any work I've ever done.
Sometimes, it has seemd like I'm doing little or nothing, strangely enough. Working as a host at Goodsoil Central is quiet. Looking for someone to engage in conversation in the halls can be very slow. Finding -- yet again -- that my table partners at meals are already on board, leaves me feeling a little useless. And yet, I know that none of this is a waste of time. Just by being here, we make a huge difference. I have heard it called a "ministry of presence." We are prayerfully engaged -- even if we haven't convinved anyone to change their mind or their vote.
It's rather like occupying that building at 2515 Waugh and having a few visitors on Sundays, and then not having them come back. Is it a waste of time? Not at all. We don't know what that visitor experienced in his or her time at Grace. Perhaps "all" we did was to plant a seed of God's love and grace, which will flower at some other time and in some other place. We may never know the outcome when we do the work we've been called and chosen to do, bu that's okay. It's in God's hands and on God's time.
As it is at home, so is it here. I may not get the immediate response I'd like when I have a conversation with someone, but that doesn't mean I haven't made a difference.
The one real conversation I've had with someone I didn't know was a half-hour spent with a man who, as it turned out, was just another visitor. I don't know why he is here -- he didn't say -- but he had a lot of good, honest questions about policy change. I didn't get a chance to tell one of my prepared stories because he was so curious, but I realized in retrospect that I had told a story after all. I had told him the story of my conviction. He thanked me when we were done, said I'd given him a lot to think about, and added that now he thought he understood the importance of full inclusion.
I also realized, in retrospect, that I had given him the opportunity to tell several parts of his own story -- one part of whcih was really quite heart-wrenching, about his gay brother-in-law, a Pentecostal minister, who lived a secret life and who ended up being killed with his male lover in what sounded like it may have been a hate crime. My new friend, from a small town in Iowa, confessed that he had held mixed feelings about his wife's brother's secret, but that I had helped to open a window, at least, to an understanding of the religious intolerance which had led indirectly to the tragic ending of the story. I have no doubt, now, that the Holy Spirit led me to be in the same place as that man that evening, and I thank God that he received the touch of God's grace through our time together.
No, this trip has in no way been a waste for me, or for any of us. We may never know how our prayerful presence has shown God's grace to others, but that's okay. We're here. And most importantly, God is here.
Peace,
Laura B
Four full days have passed. We're over the hump -- only three days left. It's been a terribly busy and exhausting time, yet has been as rewarding as any work I've ever done.
Sometimes, it has seemd like I'm doing little or nothing, strangely enough. Working as a host at Goodsoil Central is quiet. Looking for someone to engage in conversation in the halls can be very slow. Finding -- yet again -- that my table partners at meals are already on board, leaves me feeling a little useless. And yet, I know that none of this is a waste of time. Just by being here, we make a huge difference. I have heard it called a "ministry of presence." We are prayerfully engaged -- even if we haven't convinved anyone to change their mind or their vote.
It's rather like occupying that building at 2515 Waugh and having a few visitors on Sundays, and then not having them come back. Is it a waste of time? Not at all. We don't know what that visitor experienced in his or her time at Grace. Perhaps "all" we did was to plant a seed of God's love and grace, which will flower at some other time and in some other place. We may never know the outcome when we do the work we've been called and chosen to do, bu that's okay. It's in God's hands and on God's time.
As it is at home, so is it here. I may not get the immediate response I'd like when I have a conversation with someone, but that doesn't mean I haven't made a difference.
The one real conversation I've had with someone I didn't know was a half-hour spent with a man who, as it turned out, was just another visitor. I don't know why he is here -- he didn't say -- but he had a lot of good, honest questions about policy change. I didn't get a chance to tell one of my prepared stories because he was so curious, but I realized in retrospect that I had told a story after all. I had told him the story of my conviction. He thanked me when we were done, said I'd given him a lot to think about, and added that now he thought he understood the importance of full inclusion.
I also realized, in retrospect, that I had given him the opportunity to tell several parts of his own story -- one part of whcih was really quite heart-wrenching, about his gay brother-in-law, a Pentecostal minister, who lived a secret life and who ended up being killed with his male lover in what sounded like it may have been a hate crime. My new friend, from a small town in Iowa, confessed that he had held mixed feelings about his wife's brother's secret, but that I had helped to open a window, at least, to an understanding of the religious intolerance which had led indirectly to the tragic ending of the story. I have no doubt, now, that the Holy Spirit led me to be in the same place as that man that evening, and I thank God that he received the touch of God's grace through our time together.
No, this trip has in no way been a waste for me, or for any of us. We may never know how our prayerful presence has shown God's grace to others, but that's okay. We're here. And most importantly, God is here.
Peace,
Laura B
So if you haven't heard already we have passed the reccommendations allowing the rostering of openly gay clergy in monogamous life long realtionships(guess how many times I heard that phrase during the debate) and the blessing of same sex partnerships. Some opponents have threatened scism and to leave the church. Others have said they will dissapointedly try and remain.
The totality of the events have left me both upset, angry, and full of joy. Now no longer do Gay Lesbian and Bisexual people have to face the exclusion of the church. Instead we face many who find the inclusion of certain people in the church so offensive that they would withdraw themselves from the church as a whole. The hurtful words of opponents and the child-like attitude with which they have carried their arguments have created a portion of me that wants to say "Go ahead!" But that is not what Jesus calls me or any of us to do. For he told us to turn the other cheek and love our enemy as we love ourselves. I instead realize that those who would oppose my inclusion in the church are growing in their spiritual life and are far from perfect just as I am. It is easy to close oneself off from those that have caused pain, but part of Jesus' grace is that he heals all wounds for those who ask. So let us ask that Jesus heal the wounds in this church and in those who have found pain in the past week so that one day maybe opponents of the changes that we have made may join hand in hand with us and celebrate God's message to ALL of his children.
Chris Busby
The totality of the events have left me both upset, angry, and full of joy. Now no longer do Gay Lesbian and Bisexual people have to face the exclusion of the church. Instead we face many who find the inclusion of certain people in the church so offensive that they would withdraw themselves from the church as a whole. The hurtful words of opponents and the child-like attitude with which they have carried their arguments have created a portion of me that wants to say "Go ahead!" But that is not what Jesus calls me or any of us to do. For he told us to turn the other cheek and love our enemy as we love ourselves. I instead realize that those who would oppose my inclusion in the church are growing in their spiritual life and are far from perfect just as I am. It is easy to close oneself off from those that have caused pain, but part of Jesus' grace is that he heals all wounds for those who ask. So let us ask that Jesus heal the wounds in this church and in those who have found pain in the past week so that one day maybe opponents of the changes that we have made may join hand in hand with us and celebrate God's message to ALL of his children.
Chris Busby
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Grace-Filled Worship
The Goodsoil worship service last night was, as expected, a tremendously inspiring experience. Central Lutheran Church, right across from the convention center, had been slightly damaged by the tornado that touched down at midday (more on that in a minute), but was still available for our service.
The 90 year old, magnificent Neo-Gothic building seats well over 2000 people, and it was almost full. Two thousand enthusiastic, ebulient Lutherans, including (by my rough estimate) close to 75 vested clergy, including our own Pastor Lura and retired ELCA Bishop Herbert Chilstrom, sang the beautiful service with gusto and Spirit-filled reverence. It was an awesome privilege to be part of it. I often joke that I come to these meetings just for the Goodsoil worship. That's really only half-joking.
The preaching by Rev. Barbara Lundblad was spine-tingling. (I'm running out of superlative adjectives.) She is a member of the LGBT community, and is a favorite preacher for LC/NA and Goodsoil worship, for good reason. A professor of preaching at Union Theological Seminary, she knows how to capture a listening congregation and thow to keep them at rapt attention.
She preached on the Gospel story of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41), and drew fabulous parallels between our experience as an inclusive community, what we are experiencing here in Minneapolis, and that ancient story. I hope to get a transcript today of that sermon, so that I can share quoted bits with you, but I will do my best to wing it.
The first thing that really struck me was her reminder that Jesus and the disciples were in the boat on the Sea of Galillee in order to go to the other side. That was alien, foreign territory. A people who were not recognized by the people of Israel to be worthy of inclusion or even consideration. It was a potent reminder that Jesus informed his entire ministry with inclusivity and full acceptance.
Pastor Lundblad also noted that the storm of change is frightening, but Jesus is present with us, calming the storm and reminding us to have faith. She also, quoting from the second reading (1 Corinthians 12:12-27), reminded us that we are all one bady, and that all parts are necessary. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it. My take on part of the sermon -- the one based on the passage of Jesus to "the other side" -- indicates that this story is not just a metaphor for the outsider, but that Jesus reaches out to all sides.
As promised, we are bringing home some marvelous worship resources. In particular, there was an incredible affirmation of faith ( a creed -- like the Apostles' or Nicene Creeds that we use), and a way of doing prayer that was so beautifully overwhelming that I could do nothing but sit and listen, with tears in my eyes.
This worship is something that should be shared -- if only I could do it justice in mere words. I just wish that all of you could have been there to share it with us.
And now for the tornado story. I was sitting in my hotel room when I heard what sounded to me to be a VERY large truck rumbling by -- and then I remembered that I was on the 8th floor. I looked out the window and saw, to my amazement, a tornado tear down the street and destroy the outside structures that Central Lutheran had set up for assembly hospitality. Trash was flying everywhere, trees were bent low, and street barriers were toppled. I found out later that some of the chairs from the outdoor cafe on the church plaza were found on the roof of the convention center next door. We were also later told that the tornado had caused an auto accident on the street behind Central, that semi-trailers parked in the loading docks of the convention center were moved about, and that the central steeple of the church had been damaged. It was a very scary, but awe-inspiring experience.
There was talk in the assembly that our opponents, specifically an organization called Lutheran CORE, were saying that the storm was a sign of God's displeasure with what was going on in the business session (i.e. discussion of the sexuality statement), but one of the Goodsoil leaders later pointed out that it was right after the affirmative vote was taken that the sun came out. So there.
At any rate, it was an eventful, momentous day for the entire assembly, no matter which side of "the aisle" you were sitting on. It will remain to be seen if the ELCA will be able to prevent a fracture of the denomination, but I personally have a lot of faith that if anyone can lead us through the difficult period we are facing, it is Bishop Hanson and his team. They are truly and fundamentally committed to the health and unity of this church, and we would all do well to follow his generous and competent lead.
I'll post the events of today so far a little later in the day. For now, keep the prayers coming. They're working!
Peace,
Laura B
Hi, this is Barbara. Working from the computer room at the convention center.
Just got out of the morning plenary session, and the mood today was very different, after the vote passing the social statement last night.
The thing that stood out, to me, was that many of the "opponents", those who spoke strongly against the social statement and are still speaking against the ministry policies recommendation, were showing signs of emotional strain. Most of them were emotional. Several were strident. A few seemed shaky to me.
A friend pointed out that some of the traditionalists, especially the older folks, are having their world turned upside down and it leaves them feeling insecure and frightened. He said that, given our generation and social and cultural status, we can't really identify with where those folks are coming from. And the fact of the matter is that, given their generation and social and cultural experience, they have no concept of where we are coming from either. There is this huge gulf in understanding and frame of reference between the two groups.
My friend pointed out that there is common ground between these groups. That common ground is faith in Jesus.
Yesterday during the debate, before the vote on the social statement, a tornado hit Central Lutheran Church and the convention center. It did some damage to the steeple of the church and the convention center roof, but nobody was hurt. Several tables that were set up on the church grounds for a sidewalk cafe and pub were blown all the way up onto the convention center roof, but no windows were broken, and the people in the church and behind the large glass windows of the convention center were unhurt.
In the Goodsoil service at Central Lutheran last night, the reading, which was chosen months ago, was about Jesus and the disciples in the boat, in the wind storm, and the disciples' fear. The disciples woke Jesus and questioned whether he was going to help them. Jesus calmed the storm and asked the disciples why they still doubted and had such weak faith.
In the sermon, the pastor pointed out that we are in a storm at this assembly and in the ELCA, and everybody is a little shaken up,a little scared and unsure of what the future holds. We have to remember that Jesus is in the boat with us, and he has control of the storm.
Just got out of the morning plenary session, and the mood today was very different, after the vote passing the social statement last night.
The thing that stood out, to me, was that many of the "opponents", those who spoke strongly against the social statement and are still speaking against the ministry policies recommendation, were showing signs of emotional strain. Most of them were emotional. Several were strident. A few seemed shaky to me.
A friend pointed out that some of the traditionalists, especially the older folks, are having their world turned upside down and it leaves them feeling insecure and frightened. He said that, given our generation and social and cultural status, we can't really identify with where those folks are coming from. And the fact of the matter is that, given their generation and social and cultural experience, they have no concept of where we are coming from either. There is this huge gulf in understanding and frame of reference between the two groups.
My friend pointed out that there is common ground between these groups. That common ground is faith in Jesus.
Yesterday during the debate, before the vote on the social statement, a tornado hit Central Lutheran Church and the convention center. It did some damage to the steeple of the church and the convention center roof, but nobody was hurt. Several tables that were set up on the church grounds for a sidewalk cafe and pub were blown all the way up onto the convention center roof, but no windows were broken, and the people in the church and behind the large glass windows of the convention center were unhurt.
In the Goodsoil service at Central Lutheran last night, the reading, which was chosen months ago, was about Jesus and the disciples in the boat, in the wind storm, and the disciples' fear. The disciples woke Jesus and questioned whether he was going to help them. Jesus calmed the storm and asked the disciples why they still doubted and had such weak faith.
In the sermon, the pastor pointed out that we are in a storm at this assembly and in the ELCA, and everybody is a little shaken up,a little scared and unsure of what the future holds. We have to remember that Jesus is in the boat with us, and he has control of the storm.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Good News!
Just a quick notice for those who are following the assembly closely.
The Sexuality Statement passed, with minimal revision! We squeaked by, with a bare 2/3 majority, but we made it!
Please keep in prayers of thanksgiving those who have worked SO hard to help this process come to conclusion, but also keep in prayers those who opposed this development. They believe wholeheartedly that this statement damages the fabric of our church. We may not agree with them on issues of sexual orientation, but we, as sisters and brothers in Christ, must feel their pain and their distress, and be concerned about unity and healing.
Let us not celebrate these developments with mean-spiritedness or violence of thought or conscience. These are people who love this church as much as we do, and who want what they believe is best. Let us work with them -- in physical and spiritual ways -- toward healing and unification.
More to come later this evening, hopefully.
Peace!
Laura B
The Sexuality Statement passed, with minimal revision! We squeaked by, with a bare 2/3 majority, but we made it!
Please keep in prayers of thanksgiving those who have worked SO hard to help this process come to conclusion, but also keep in prayers those who opposed this development. They believe wholeheartedly that this statement damages the fabric of our church. We may not agree with them on issues of sexual orientation, but we, as sisters and brothers in Christ, must feel their pain and their distress, and be concerned about unity and healing.
Let us not celebrate these developments with mean-spiritedness or violence of thought or conscience. These are people who love this church as much as we do, and who want what they believe is best. Let us work with them -- in physical and spiritual ways -- toward healing and unification.
More to come later this evening, hopefully.
Peace!
Laura B
So Far, So Good
Normally, the early business of an assembly consists of rather dry procedural housekeeping details that only a parliamentarian could love. Not so at this assembly.
On Monday night, during the first business session, when the adoption of procedures and rules came up on the agenda, the kid gloves came off for the first time.
First, though, some quick background details. Adoption of a church social statement, such as the sexuality statement being considered here in Minneapolis, requires a 2/3 "super majority vote" in order to pass. That's in the constitution and can't be changed without a lot of trouble. Other business, such as the recommended changes to ministry policy, which are also being considered here, require only a "simple majority," or 50% + 1.
Well, the debate on Moday night centered around changing the voting rules only for ministry policies. Opponents of changing church policy to enable partnered gay and lesbian church professionals, which includes pastors, to serve as rostered (official) leaders of the church desperately attempted to change the vote requirement from a simple majority to a super majority. This parliamentary move would almost certainly doom the legislation, making change impossible.
Voices were passionalte on both sides of the 2 hour debate. Those in favor of keeping the simple majority argued that it only took a 50% vote to decide against allowing partnered gay and lesbian professionals to serve in the church in the first place, so it's only right that we should allow a 50% vote to change the policy to allow full inclusivity now. Those in favor of requiring a super majority vote argued that since there is no unity in opinion in the ELCA on the subject, and because of the "gravity of the issue," only a 2/3 vote would be appropriate. Eventually, however, we won the day, and on the motion to require a super majority vote on ministry policy changes, the vote was 57% against.
This is great news for supporters of full inclusion, and considering the numbers of the vote, there is great hope now among us that the changes to ministry policies will pass when they come up for vote on, perhaps, Friday.
This, as you know, directly affects Grace, as we have a pastor who is excluded from serving on the official ELCA roster because of the existing policy. And there are a heartbreaking number of stories which are even tougher to hear than Pasotr Lura's.
We have met so many seminary sturdents and graduates here who suffer from this exclusion. I spoke to a young man this morning, a seminary student, who told me that when he recently came out to his congregation, he was asked to leave the church. Our Graceful Engagemet trainer is a seminary grad who is serving the church in a low-paying, lay position. She can find no other work. And I spoke with the mother of another seminary grad ( she is, ironically, the wife of an ELCA pastor) who is simply waiting for a call that will never come if policy is not changed. She cries at the injustice and the pain of it for her child.
Pasor Lura came to us, you remember, as an ELM (Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries) candidate. ELM is a sponsoring body for LGBT persons who will accept extraordinary calls from churches, like Grace, who are willing to buck the ELCA rules and call an unrostered person. We did it. It can be done. But it is a sacrifice for the pastor because it is not an official, ELCA sanctioned call.
Do you know that, despite our local bishop's sensitivity on the subject, he must send mail to her under the title, "Ms. Lura Groen"? Do you know that she cannot vote at church meetings? Do you know that we are listed on our local synod's website as currently being without a pastor?
Can you imagine how difficult this must be? Granted, our pastor has not let this slow her down in the least, but it still hurts. And it is clear that some pastors are simply not willing to take her chosen route at all. And they hurt, too. They all want to serve in the ELCA -- the church they love, the church that nurtured them as children, the church that willingly educated them to be qualified pastors, the church to which they feel called. It is for all of these people, for all of the Ms. and Mr. near-pastors out there, that we work this week.
We walk the halls, talking to voting members about the issues. We sit next to them at meals, sharing our personal stories and putting a real, live face on the debate. We train, we sing, we pray, we support one another in this tiring work. And at the end of long, exhausting days, we fall into our beds for a few hours of sleep, feeling vulnerable and afraid, but recalling the words of Bishop Hanson in his opening sermon, "Fear can make us turned inward, immobilized, withdrawn from engagement in God's mission -- mere shadows of what God created us to be. Fear can make us obsessively protective of what we have, and reactively distrustful of others. Fear nurtures the suspicion and cynicism that lead us to act in ways that are mean-spirited and downright anti-neighborly. Fear can drive us to make demands of others for our own security rather than faith making us ready to serve others with confidence and humility. Fear can drive us to false certainties rather than be ready to explore questions that, when addresses faithfully, can embolden our witness, release our imaginations, deepen our faith, and strengthen our courage."
It is hard not to live in fear right now. What if all of our work comes to nothing? What if what we believe to be God's justice is overturned? It is, indeed, hard not to be afraid.
But we stand in the certainty of God's love and grace, in the certainty of the open and welcoming witness of the life of Jesus, and in the certainty of the wisdom, comfort, and direction that is offered by the Holy Spirit.
No matter what happens here in Minneapolis, we can be absolutely certain of these things. Even if the road ahead of us is going to be longer and more difficult that we would wish for, we can still be certain of these things.
It is this certainty that brings deep, restful sleep at the end of an exhausting day, and the energy to get up and start all over again in the morning.
Peace,
Laura B
Later today (hopefully): the results of the Sexuality Statement vote!
On Monday night, during the first business session, when the adoption of procedures and rules came up on the agenda, the kid gloves came off for the first time.
First, though, some quick background details. Adoption of a church social statement, such as the sexuality statement being considered here in Minneapolis, requires a 2/3 "super majority vote" in order to pass. That's in the constitution and can't be changed without a lot of trouble. Other business, such as the recommended changes to ministry policy, which are also being considered here, require only a "simple majority," or 50% + 1.
Well, the debate on Moday night centered around changing the voting rules only for ministry policies. Opponents of changing church policy to enable partnered gay and lesbian church professionals, which includes pastors, to serve as rostered (official) leaders of the church desperately attempted to change the vote requirement from a simple majority to a super majority. This parliamentary move would almost certainly doom the legislation, making change impossible.
Voices were passionalte on both sides of the 2 hour debate. Those in favor of keeping the simple majority argued that it only took a 50% vote to decide against allowing partnered gay and lesbian professionals to serve in the church in the first place, so it's only right that we should allow a 50% vote to change the policy to allow full inclusivity now. Those in favor of requiring a super majority vote argued that since there is no unity in opinion in the ELCA on the subject, and because of the "gravity of the issue," only a 2/3 vote would be appropriate. Eventually, however, we won the day, and on the motion to require a super majority vote on ministry policy changes, the vote was 57% against.
This is great news for supporters of full inclusion, and considering the numbers of the vote, there is great hope now among us that the changes to ministry policies will pass when they come up for vote on, perhaps, Friday.
This, as you know, directly affects Grace, as we have a pastor who is excluded from serving on the official ELCA roster because of the existing policy. And there are a heartbreaking number of stories which are even tougher to hear than Pasotr Lura's.
We have met so many seminary sturdents and graduates here who suffer from this exclusion. I spoke to a young man this morning, a seminary student, who told me that when he recently came out to his congregation, he was asked to leave the church. Our Graceful Engagemet trainer is a seminary grad who is serving the church in a low-paying, lay position. She can find no other work. And I spoke with the mother of another seminary grad ( she is, ironically, the wife of an ELCA pastor) who is simply waiting for a call that will never come if policy is not changed. She cries at the injustice and the pain of it for her child.
Pasor Lura came to us, you remember, as an ELM (Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries) candidate. ELM is a sponsoring body for LGBT persons who will accept extraordinary calls from churches, like Grace, who are willing to buck the ELCA rules and call an unrostered person. We did it. It can be done. But it is a sacrifice for the pastor because it is not an official, ELCA sanctioned call.
Do you know that, despite our local bishop's sensitivity on the subject, he must send mail to her under the title, "Ms. Lura Groen"? Do you know that she cannot vote at church meetings? Do you know that we are listed on our local synod's website as currently being without a pastor?
Can you imagine how difficult this must be? Granted, our pastor has not let this slow her down in the least, but it still hurts. And it is clear that some pastors are simply not willing to take her chosen route at all. And they hurt, too. They all want to serve in the ELCA -- the church they love, the church that nurtured them as children, the church that willingly educated them to be qualified pastors, the church to which they feel called. It is for all of these people, for all of the Ms. and Mr. near-pastors out there, that we work this week.
We walk the halls, talking to voting members about the issues. We sit next to them at meals, sharing our personal stories and putting a real, live face on the debate. We train, we sing, we pray, we support one another in this tiring work. And at the end of long, exhausting days, we fall into our beds for a few hours of sleep, feeling vulnerable and afraid, but recalling the words of Bishop Hanson in his opening sermon, "Fear can make us turned inward, immobilized, withdrawn from engagement in God's mission -- mere shadows of what God created us to be. Fear can make us obsessively protective of what we have, and reactively distrustful of others. Fear nurtures the suspicion and cynicism that lead us to act in ways that are mean-spirited and downright anti-neighborly. Fear can drive us to make demands of others for our own security rather than faith making us ready to serve others with confidence and humility. Fear can drive us to false certainties rather than be ready to explore questions that, when addresses faithfully, can embolden our witness, release our imaginations, deepen our faith, and strengthen our courage."
It is hard not to live in fear right now. What if all of our work comes to nothing? What if what we believe to be God's justice is overturned? It is, indeed, hard not to be afraid.
But we stand in the certainty of God's love and grace, in the certainty of the open and welcoming witness of the life of Jesus, and in the certainty of the wisdom, comfort, and direction that is offered by the Holy Spirit.
No matter what happens here in Minneapolis, we can be absolutely certain of these things. Even if the road ahead of us is going to be longer and more difficult that we would wish for, we can still be certain of these things.
It is this certainty that brings deep, restful sleep at the end of an exhausting day, and the energy to get up and start all over again in the morning.
Peace,
Laura B
Later today (hopefully): the results of the Sexuality Statement vote!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
After a long Day
Pastor Lura here, with a rambling reflection.
Being here hurts sometimes. I don't always feel my emotions as I should, but all over my body I can feel the tension and stress.
It isn't that things have been so bad- I've had graceful interactions with beatiful people, as well as difficult moments. There is a spirit of listening, praying, moving here, a spirit I can only call the Spirit. The vast majority of my interactions with strangers have been unsuccessful in swaying votes: they "come out" as supporters before I come out as me. The one conversation I had with an "opponent" was friendly and affectionate. And I'm among strong and bold friends.
But still, but still, my inclusion in the life of the church is being debated, voted on. Even civilly, even with a good chance for change, this is hard.
Being present to the emotions, both mine and those of Grace members is important. But so is retiring to my room, for a bath and some good yoga. I'm taking care of myself, and reminding our Grace members to do the same.
But please, continue to pray for us here.
Being here hurts sometimes. I don't always feel my emotions as I should, but all over my body I can feel the tension and stress.
It isn't that things have been so bad- I've had graceful interactions with beatiful people, as well as difficult moments. There is a spirit of listening, praying, moving here, a spirit I can only call the Spirit. The vast majority of my interactions with strangers have been unsuccessful in swaying votes: they "come out" as supporters before I come out as me. The one conversation I had with an "opponent" was friendly and affectionate. And I'm among strong and bold friends.
But still, but still, my inclusion in the life of the church is being debated, voted on. Even civilly, even with a good chance for change, this is hard.
Being present to the emotions, both mine and those of Grace members is important. But so is retiring to my room, for a bath and some good yoga. I'm taking care of myself, and reminding our Grace members to do the same.
But please, continue to pray for us here.
So many times have I heard about the church facing despair, disruption, and fracture over the issue of the social statement on human sexuality. It seems to be a running threat of those opposed and a fear of those in favor. If we pass this will the church fracture? What will happen to the unity of the church? This is a theme promoted and probably hoped for by the media hoping to generate news. With the disruption of the church among our Episcopalian brothers and sister over the issue of human sexuality it is easy to predict a similar outcome for our church. Seeds of discontent have already been sown and without a doubt there will be some that will choose to leave should we open the church to all of those who would be willing to follow in Christ's shoes. I write this not in hopes of further stirring this fear but in hopes that you will all join me in prayer that this will not be our fate and hope that we as a church can move forward. It is my prediction that this sexuality statement may very well pass and that we will allow the ordination of ministers in same sex relationships. And it is my opinion that this is the right thing to do with absolutely no reservation in my heart. It is also my realization that no human is prefect and that there are several who will be offended or will feel assaulted by this conclusion. I urge you to pray for them, as they will enter a time of trial and tribulation wherein they will feel their church becoming distant from them. Even as I hear thier words condeming me, my sexuality, and the way in which I live my life, I pray that they come to the eventual conclusion that we are all children of God. And even if they never change their opinion on the subject of homosexuality and its realtion to God's plan for our lives, that they come to the realization that God reaches out to all people of all persuasions of thought and lifestyle. No man has a monopoly on God's word and God's teachings and we should as supporters of full inclusion within the church reach out to those who feel distanced, and yes even hurt, by these changes while at the same time holding onto our position and realizing that we must do the right thing and support the statement.
Chris Busby
Chris Busby
Monday, August 17, 2009
We're Here!
And what a week it promises to be. I just left the assembly's opening worship service -- I came down a little late, and the service had already begun. I wasn't quite sure where the worship hall was, but I knew I was headed in the right direction because the joyful noise of one thousand Spirit-filled Lutherans singing with all their hearts flowed out with love and purpose into the cavernous hallway. What a sound!
"Hail thee, festival day, blest day to be hallowed forever, day when our Lord was raised, breaking the kingdom of death."
The familiar tune and powerful words led me right into the heart of Lutheran worship. Right into the heart of the Lutheran expression of faith. The sure and certain knowledge that, through the grace of Jesus Christ, we are no longer prisoners of death, in any of its disguises. We are no longer prisoners of fear, or of disagreement, or of division, or of, at its worst, distrust and hatred.
Our Presiding Bishop, Mark Hansen, spoke to this in his inspired sermon when he proclaimed that the risen Christ came to his frightened, immobilized disciples in the upper room -- not waiting to be invited in, not waiting for them to settle any theological argument -- no, he came to them unbidden and unexpectedly, and did two remarkable things. First, he offered them peace. Forgiveness. Unconditional love. And then, when they believed, he breathed on them the power of the Holy Spirit.
That, Bishop Hansen said, is what Jesus does for us today, at this assembly. He casts out all fear. He blesses and brings peace, and he offers us again and again, over and over, without preconditions and without being asked, the power of the Holy Spirit, which guides and comforts and unites us in one common mission: to offer that same loving and grace-filled word to a world filled with pain. Peace, Jesus said. Do not be afraid. And those who heard him, those who hear him today, experience real and powerful transformation and unity of purpose.
It is this ground upon which we stand this week as we enter into what could be the most difficult discussions we have had in the twenty year history of this united Lutheran church, the ELCA.
I pray, for both sides of these troublesome sexuality issues, that we will take this powerful word to heart. Perfect peace, the Bible repeats, casts out all fear. And make no mistake about it, it is fear that motivates so much of our conflict in the church. It is fear that motivates self-righteous anger, fear that motivates bigotry and hatred, fear that motivates defensiveness and stubbornness, and we are all victims of that fear.
My prayer is that we will come together, listen to each others' stories, and find common ground, free of fear and all of the evil that arises from it.
My prayer is that we will experience -- recognize and embrace -- the power of God's Holy Spirit, and that we will all be led to transformation, peace, justice, and unity.
Amen!
Laura B
Tomorrow: Graceful Engagement
"Hail thee, festival day, blest day to be hallowed forever, day when our Lord was raised, breaking the kingdom of death."
The familiar tune and powerful words led me right into the heart of Lutheran worship. Right into the heart of the Lutheran expression of faith. The sure and certain knowledge that, through the grace of Jesus Christ, we are no longer prisoners of death, in any of its disguises. We are no longer prisoners of fear, or of disagreement, or of division, or of, at its worst, distrust and hatred.
Our Presiding Bishop, Mark Hansen, spoke to this in his inspired sermon when he proclaimed that the risen Christ came to his frightened, immobilized disciples in the upper room -- not waiting to be invited in, not waiting for them to settle any theological argument -- no, he came to them unbidden and unexpectedly, and did two remarkable things. First, he offered them peace. Forgiveness. Unconditional love. And then, when they believed, he breathed on them the power of the Holy Spirit.
That, Bishop Hansen said, is what Jesus does for us today, at this assembly. He casts out all fear. He blesses and brings peace, and he offers us again and again, over and over, without preconditions and without being asked, the power of the Holy Spirit, which guides and comforts and unites us in one common mission: to offer that same loving and grace-filled word to a world filled with pain. Peace, Jesus said. Do not be afraid. And those who heard him, those who hear him today, experience real and powerful transformation and unity of purpose.
It is this ground upon which we stand this week as we enter into what could be the most difficult discussions we have had in the twenty year history of this united Lutheran church, the ELCA.
I pray, for both sides of these troublesome sexuality issues, that we will take this powerful word to heart. Perfect peace, the Bible repeats, casts out all fear. And make no mistake about it, it is fear that motivates so much of our conflict in the church. It is fear that motivates self-righteous anger, fear that motivates bigotry and hatred, fear that motivates defensiveness and stubbornness, and we are all victims of that fear.
My prayer is that we will come together, listen to each others' stories, and find common ground, free of fear and all of the evil that arises from it.
My prayer is that we will experience -- recognize and embrace -- the power of God's Holy Spirit, and that we will all be led to transformation, peace, justice, and unity.
Amen!
Laura B
Tomorrow: Graceful Engagement
Sunday, August 16, 2009
What'cha Doin'?
11 hours and counting.
As promised, an update on exactly what your volunteer delegation will be doing in Minneapolis.
Just to clarify, first of all, none of us are voting members. We will not be directly involved in making the ultimate decisions described in yesterday's blog entry. We are volunteers, working with an LGBT lobbying group called Goodsoil, which is affiliated with Lutherans Concerned (if you don't know about this latter organization, visit their website at lcna.org). We hope that we will be able to influence the outcome of the votes through the use of several means:
All in all, this is an effort which takes hundreds of committed volunteers and thousands of hours of heartfelt labor, between preparation for the assembly and then working it.
Say a prayer of thanks today, if you will, for all of the folks who care enough about justice to work so hard to help make it happen. They are, each and every one of them, truly a gift of God's grace.
Peace!
Laura B
Tomorrow: We arrive!
As promised, an update on exactly what your volunteer delegation will be doing in Minneapolis.
Just to clarify, first of all, none of us are voting members. We will not be directly involved in making the ultimate decisions described in yesterday's blog entry. We are volunteers, working with an LGBT lobbying group called Goodsoil, which is affiliated with Lutherans Concerned (if you don't know about this latter organization, visit their website at lcna.org). We hope that we will be able to influence the outcome of the votes through the use of several means:
- Prayer, first and foremost -- Some of us will be holding prayer vigils throughout the proceedings; in the assembly worship space when it is not being used, in the assembly room itself during sessions, and in the hearing rooms during open presentations on the matters at hand. Pray-ers will be wearing rainbow colored shawls to indicate their prayerful intentions. There are expected to be hundreds of these color-splashed pray-ers.
- Graceful Engagement -- These trained volunteers will be available during sessions in the hallways, during meals, and whenever the opportunity presents itself, to talk to voting members about inclusivity issues. Graceful engagement means just what it says. We are not out to argue, or to get into philosophical or biblical debates, or to protest, or to cause any sort of a ruckus. Rather, our approach is prayer-led and grace-filled. We meet with others to tell our real and personal stories about why we care about these issues, to listen to their stories, and to work, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to find common ground. We do not expect to change anyone's mind, really. For those who are firmly opposed to LGBT inclusion, we would just be an irritation. However, there is a significant percentage of people out there who haven't yet made up their minds on the subject. They are what we call the "movable middle," and it is these people we hope to reach with our stories. Graceful engagement is a powerful method of communicating, and our prayer is that it shows real results at this conference.
- Singing -- The power of the grace-filled message of the Gospel is especially felt through song, and we'll be doing plenty of song-making this week. Each morning, groups of strolling rainbow-shawled singers will greet the voting members as they move from the hotel to the convention center. This is a terrific witness, and is a lot of fun, as well! Singing will also be front-and-center at the Goodsoil worship service on Wednesday evening. This service is expected to draw over 1000 attendees, and will feature inspiring, rousing congregational singing as well as the offerings of the wonderful RIC Choir -- also made up of volunteers. Don't be surprised if we bring some new music ideas back to Houston with us!
- Volunteers will also be handing out literature and prayer resources to voting members, staffing the hospitality suite named (appropriately enough) Goodsoil Central, helping to set up and break down various activity venues, and conducting graceful engagement and story telling training. There is also a very gifted Legislative Team which will be preparing allied voting members for effectiveness on the floor.
All in all, this is an effort which takes hundreds of committed volunteers and thousands of hours of heartfelt labor, between preparation for the assembly and then working it.
Say a prayer of thanks today, if you will, for all of the folks who care enough about justice to work so hard to help make it happen. They are, each and every one of them, truly a gift of God's grace.
Peace!
Laura B
Tomorrow: We arrive!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Churchwide Coming Up!
Forty hours to lift-off, and counting. Literally. The plane carrying part of our 9 member volunteer delegation to the Churchwide Assembly (including me) leaves Intercontinental at 8 am on Monday morning.
We'll be blogging daily, at least, while we're at this assembly so that you can keep up to date regularly with what's going on -- from our perspective. There's also a lot of great general information at elca.org/assembly (pictures, videos, news releases, and staff blogs), but this report is unique to Grace and the work we'll be doing with the LGBT lobbying group Goodsoil to hopefully bring about change in the church on sexuality policy.
Just as background: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA, our national church organization) was tasked by the 2001 Assembly to research and produce a comprehensive position paper/teaching document on human sexuality for consideration and adoption by 2003. Eight years and multiple drafts (and three studies) later, we finally have a completed paper for consideration. You can read and download a copy of the full proposed paper at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Proposed-Social-Statement.aspx , or a summary of it at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Prposed-Socail-Statement/Executive-Summary.aspx
The study is very sympathetic to LGBT peoples and families, and opened up the language surrounding the area of marriage by stating, "The historic Christian tradition and the Lutheran Confessions have recognized marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman." This language leaves room for change, and is very encouraging. It could have been left as it was in an earlier draft, which stated rather categorically that marriage was only between a man and a woman.
Overall, the sexuality statement is considered by Goodsoil to be a positive step forward, so we will be working for passage (maybe with some attempted revisions from the floor). Passage is generally expected. We'll keep you posted.
In addition to the proposed sexuality statement, the Sexuality Task Force also made recommendations to change ministry policies in the church. Currently, there is a policy which denies the pastorate to LGBT persons who refuse to remain celibate. If a previously celibate LGBT pastor enters into a relationship -- even a monogamous, covenanted, permanent one -- he or she can be removed from the pulpit at the discretion of the local bishop. The Task Force recommendations on ministry policy (which can be found in their entirety at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Report-and-Recommendation.aspx or in summary at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Report-and-Recommendation/Executive-Summary.aspx) are that LGBT persons be allowed to serve, even if they are in a relationship. This recommendation is going to be a tougher hurdle to pass than the statement, although a small majority of the area synods have sent resolutions forward to the national assembly asking for acceptance of the policy change. The trick is that the voting members are not required to vote according to the wishes of their synod. Even if a synod sent a positive resolution, that is not binding on the church as a whole, or on the individual voting member. Anything can happen in a floor vote. It is this issue of policy change that we -- Goodsoil and its volunteers -- will be paying particular attention to.
There are, of course, other much less controversial pieces of business before the assembly, which functions as the highest-level decsion-making body in the church. The ELCA does a lot of good work, both domestically and overseas. Among the agenda items are the new budget, HIV/AIDS strategy, a malaria initiative, Middle East strategy, and full communion with the United Methodist Church. We will be reporting on this business, as well, as we celebrate what it means to be church together: to be Christ to the world.
In addition, there is a lot of spiritual sustenance and even fun to be had at Churchwide -- especially if you hang out with Goodsoil people. We'll be having a massive Goodsoil worship service, as well as a healing service (which, as done by Goodsoil, is a mighty powerful experience -- take it from me). We'll also be having a party somewhere in the midst of all this, too. You won't miss a thing if you read here every day!
Please keep our delegation (Pastor Lura, Barbara Carroll, April Wackenreuter, Robert Wittliff, Chris Busby, Bridget Jensen, Hal Core, Steve Walker, and me) in your earnest prayers over this next week. Also hold up all of the Goodsoil volunteers, and the assembly leaders and voting members, that the Holy Spirit will always be present to us in our work in Minneapolis, and that we come together to accomplish God's will in the world.
Peace!
Laura B
Tomorrow: What we'll be up to, exactly, in Minneapolis.
We'll be blogging daily, at least, while we're at this assembly so that you can keep up to date regularly with what's going on -- from our perspective. There's also a lot of great general information at elca.org/assembly (pictures, videos, news releases, and staff blogs), but this report is unique to Grace and the work we'll be doing with the LGBT lobbying group Goodsoil to hopefully bring about change in the church on sexuality policy.
Just as background: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA, our national church organization) was tasked by the 2001 Assembly to research and produce a comprehensive position paper/teaching document on human sexuality for consideration and adoption by 2003. Eight years and multiple drafts (and three studies) later, we finally have a completed paper for consideration. You can read and download a copy of the full proposed paper at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Proposed-Social-Statement.aspx , or a summary of it at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Prposed-Socail-Statement/Executive-Summary.aspx
The study is very sympathetic to LGBT peoples and families, and opened up the language surrounding the area of marriage by stating, "The historic Christian tradition and the Lutheran Confessions have recognized marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman." This language leaves room for change, and is very encouraging. It could have been left as it was in an earlier draft, which stated rather categorically that marriage was only between a man and a woman.
Overall, the sexuality statement is considered by Goodsoil to be a positive step forward, so we will be working for passage (maybe with some attempted revisions from the floor). Passage is generally expected. We'll keep you posted.
In addition to the proposed sexuality statement, the Sexuality Task Force also made recommendations to change ministry policies in the church. Currently, there is a policy which denies the pastorate to LGBT persons who refuse to remain celibate. If a previously celibate LGBT pastor enters into a relationship -- even a monogamous, covenanted, permanent one -- he or she can be removed from the pulpit at the discretion of the local bishop. The Task Force recommendations on ministry policy (which can be found in their entirety at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Report-and-Recommendation.aspx or in summary at http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality/Report-and-Recommendation/Executive-Summary.aspx) are that LGBT persons be allowed to serve, even if they are in a relationship. This recommendation is going to be a tougher hurdle to pass than the statement, although a small majority of the area synods have sent resolutions forward to the national assembly asking for acceptance of the policy change. The trick is that the voting members are not required to vote according to the wishes of their synod. Even if a synod sent a positive resolution, that is not binding on the church as a whole, or on the individual voting member. Anything can happen in a floor vote. It is this issue of policy change that we -- Goodsoil and its volunteers -- will be paying particular attention to.
There are, of course, other much less controversial pieces of business before the assembly, which functions as the highest-level decsion-making body in the church. The ELCA does a lot of good work, both domestically and overseas. Among the agenda items are the new budget, HIV/AIDS strategy, a malaria initiative, Middle East strategy, and full communion with the United Methodist Church. We will be reporting on this business, as well, as we celebrate what it means to be church together: to be Christ to the world.
In addition, there is a lot of spiritual sustenance and even fun to be had at Churchwide -- especially if you hang out with Goodsoil people. We'll be having a massive Goodsoil worship service, as well as a healing service (which, as done by Goodsoil, is a mighty powerful experience -- take it from me). We'll also be having a party somewhere in the midst of all this, too. You won't miss a thing if you read here every day!
Please keep our delegation (Pastor Lura, Barbara Carroll, April Wackenreuter, Robert Wittliff, Chris Busby, Bridget Jensen, Hal Core, Steve Walker, and me) in your earnest prayers over this next week. Also hold up all of the Goodsoil volunteers, and the assembly leaders and voting members, that the Holy Spirit will always be present to us in our work in Minneapolis, and that we come together to accomplish God's will in the world.
Peace!
Laura B
Tomorrow: What we'll be up to, exactly, in Minneapolis.
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