council Resolution July 2014
Letter from Council, July 2014
In 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a social statement called, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. The vote was the culmination of more than twenty years of study and debate. Since the sexual revolution of the 1960’s our culture has wrestled with changing attitudes about sex. Changing understandings of homosexuality are just part of the larger issue. The incidence of divorce, cohabitation, abusive sexual behavior, internet porn and so many other things make the matter of human sexuality an urgent matter. This statement was adopted by a two-thirds majority at the assembly and has become the document that guides our deliberation and teaching on matters of human sexuality.
As leaders of this congregation, we all feel that it is time to move forward and lay this perennial source of anxiety and debate to rest. The ELCA statement gives each congregation a great deal of autonomy when it comes to acting on the matters outlined. Congregations all over the country, and especially in states that allow same-sex marriage like Iowa, need to proactively decide how they will handle matters related to marriage and blessing of marriages/unions.
Over the past five years, many of us are saddened and fearful when we watch members move on to other congregations as a result of the 2009 social statement. We need to be grateful that these members and friends have found a new church home and remain a part of the body of Christ. You may not be aware that former members have returned to Holy Trinity because of the social statement and because we are an “open arms” church. We are committed to making decisions and acting in ways that reflect our mission and values – Radical Hospitality, Intentional Compassion, Fearless Witness, Extravagant Generosity, Spiritual Transformation, and Authentic Worship. Many new members have stated that they joined Holy Trinity because we demonstrated these values, and specifically welcomed them with radical hospitality.
The Congregation Council has discussed and prayerfully considered the attached resolution for over a year. Before a member, or a member’s daughter or son, granddaughter or grandson, sibling or close friend comes and asks us to decide, our pastors need to know how we, as a congregation, will support their decisions in these matters.
In 2009, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a social statement called, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. The vote was the culmination of more than twenty years of study and debate. Since the sexual revolution of the 1960’s our culture has wrestled with changing attitudes about sex. Changing understandings of homosexuality are just part of the larger issue. The incidence of divorce, cohabitation, abusive sexual behavior, internet porn and so many other things make the matter of human sexuality an urgent matter. This statement was adopted by a two-thirds majority at the assembly and has become the document that guides our deliberation and teaching on matters of human sexuality.
As leaders of this congregation, we all feel that it is time to move forward and lay this perennial source of anxiety and debate to rest. The ELCA statement gives each congregation a great deal of autonomy when it comes to acting on the matters outlined. Congregations all over the country, and especially in states that allow same-sex marriage like Iowa, need to proactively decide how they will handle matters related to marriage and blessing of marriages/unions.
Over the past five years, many of us are saddened and fearful when we watch members move on to other congregations as a result of the 2009 social statement. We need to be grateful that these members and friends have found a new church home and remain a part of the body of Christ. You may not be aware that former members have returned to Holy Trinity because of the social statement and because we are an “open arms” church. We are committed to making decisions and acting in ways that reflect our mission and values – Radical Hospitality, Intentional Compassion, Fearless Witness, Extravagant Generosity, Spiritual Transformation, and Authentic Worship. Many new members have stated that they joined Holy Trinity because we demonstrated these values, and specifically welcomed them with radical hospitality.
The Congregation Council has discussed and prayerfully considered the attached resolution for over a year. Before a member, or a member’s daughter or son, granddaughter or grandson, sibling or close friend comes and asks us to decide, our pastors need to know how we, as a congregation, will support their decisions in these matters.
Congregation Council Resolution on Support of Pastoral Decisions
WHEREAS Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is an intentionally committed member of the greater Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), guided by its policies and churchwide decisions;
WHEREAS it is clear that there is disagreement in our church about how to pastorally address the way in which same-gender couples might express a commitment to a lifelong, monogamous relationship;
WHEREAS the ELCA Social Statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and does not promote or provide for same-gender marriage, it does allow recognition or blessing of same-gender unions when pastorally helpful or appropriate and as it promotes lifelong, monogamous relationships;
WHEREAS the statement defers decisions about solemnizing or blessing same-gender unions to each congregation as a matter of pastoral care;
WHEREAS the State of Iowa considers same-gender unions to be marriage and issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples;
WHEREAS the pastor acts in a civil capacity when executing a marriage license issued by the state, and in a separate religious capacity to bless any marriage;
WHEREAS the congregation restricts marriage and/or blessings of civil unions to members of the congregation;
WHEREAS pastors are currently called upon to decide whether it is appropriate to marry/bless unions of couples who are already sexually active, residing together, and/or divorced and choose to do so when it promotes sexual relationships that are mutual, life-long, monogamous commitments and will apply the same faithful discernment to all who want to be married in and through this congregation;
WHEREAS the final decision to bless a relationship or perform a marriage/blessing is, and always has been, a pastoral decision to be made by the ordained;
WHEREAS the Congregation Council desires to provide direction and support to our pastors as they make such decisions;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the congregation shall support decisions made by pastors under call or contract at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church to execute marriage licenses and/or preside at services which bless and unite couples who are legally able to be married in the state of Iowa, in the church as the pastor’s bound conscience allows.
WHEREAS Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is an intentionally committed member of the greater Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), guided by its policies and churchwide decisions;
WHEREAS it is clear that there is disagreement in our church about how to pastorally address the way in which same-gender couples might express a commitment to a lifelong, monogamous relationship;
WHEREAS the ELCA Social Statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and does not promote or provide for same-gender marriage, it does allow recognition or blessing of same-gender unions when pastorally helpful or appropriate and as it promotes lifelong, monogamous relationships;
WHEREAS the statement defers decisions about solemnizing or blessing same-gender unions to each congregation as a matter of pastoral care;
WHEREAS the State of Iowa considers same-gender unions to be marriage and issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples;
WHEREAS the pastor acts in a civil capacity when executing a marriage license issued by the state, and in a separate religious capacity to bless any marriage;
WHEREAS the congregation restricts marriage and/or blessings of civil unions to members of the congregation;
WHEREAS pastors are currently called upon to decide whether it is appropriate to marry/bless unions of couples who are already sexually active, residing together, and/or divorced and choose to do so when it promotes sexual relationships that are mutual, life-long, monogamous commitments and will apply the same faithful discernment to all who want to be married in and through this congregation;
WHEREAS the final decision to bless a relationship or perform a marriage/blessing is, and always has been, a pastoral decision to be made by the ordained;
WHEREAS the Congregation Council desires to provide direction and support to our pastors as they make such decisions;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the congregation shall support decisions made by pastors under call or contract at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church to execute marriage licenses and/or preside at services which bless and unite couples who are legally able to be married in the state of Iowa, in the church as the pastor’s bound conscience allows.
