At the synod assembly, we were asked to consider a resolution from a church that is east of us (I think?) which would memorialize to the Churchwide Assembly that we want the ambigious language out of the decision they passed on sexuality in 2004.Â? (The English translation of that: we’d be telling Churchwise Assembly to take a definitive stand on whether or not homosexuality is kosher with us and to stop dialoguing with churches that want to bless same-sex unions and ordain practicing GLBT folks.)
My first reaction: OK… we’ve beat this horse to death already — why are we still beating it by discussing sexuality yet again?
We had 30 minutes set aside for discussion and we only used like 10 minutes of it, with 4 people speaking — 2 in favor and 2 in opposition.Â? We then voted and the resolution was defeated by a 2/3 (I think?) majority.
OK… so what exactly is the precedent set by this? I know that some people are saying that the synod is affirming homosexuality and we’re going to start being like the rest of the ELCA.Â? Others are going to say that this is a bad sign and those of orthodox faith should leave the ELCA.Â? My thought (and probably the thought of the rest of the assembly): we’ve discussed this ad nauseum for 5 years.Â? Can we please do something else?Â? (One of the speakers actually voiced this opinion and I have to agree.)
Most of you know where I stand (I probably would have voted “yes” on the measure but while rolling my eyes because we’ve been voting on this issue for so flipping long) and I actually agree with the defeating decision.Â? The language in the Churchwide statement is ambiguous for a reason: NOTHING was going to pass unless it left room for dialogue withÂ? churches that had an opposing viewpoint.Â? (I know those involved in getting the resolution passed — it was a pain to get ANYTHING through.)Â? The ELCA is a BIG church and as such, there is a pretty big continuum on what people believe about the issue.Â? While I think we need to actually take a definitive decision one way or another and stop being so Laodicean about it, we also need to accept that people are going to disagree and we need to keep talking with them, whether or not we agree.
My only hope right now: that there aren’t going to be people in my midst who take this decision and start flipping out about how the ELCA is going to hell in a handbasket and how all those orthodox people need to leave.
