Homosexuality and the ELCA
All people are welcome in ELCA congregations
The 1991 Churchwide Assembly (CWA) — the highest legislative body of the ELCA — affirmed "... that gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America." This policy was reaffirmed by the 1995 CWA, and the 1999 CWA further encouraged discerning conversation about homosexuality and the inclusion of gay and lesbian persons in our common life and mission. As a result of CWA action in 2001, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson addressed ELCA membership in August 2003, noting that the "...assembly’s actions mandated that this church engage in a study on homosexuality and a study on sexuality. The first study is to deal with the blessing of same-gender unions and the rostering of persons in committed gay or lesbian relationships. The second study is to lead to the development of a social statement on sexuality."
Same-sex unions
The ELCA has no policy on the blessing of same-sex unions. In 1993 the Conference of Bishops (65 synodical bishops elected by congregations on their territories) stated that there was no basis in Scripture or tradition for an official ceremony by this church for the blessing of same-sex unions, but that "Nevertheless, we express trust in and will continue dialogue with those pastors and congregations who are in ministry with gay and lesbian persons, and affirm their desire to explore the best ways to provide pastoral care for all to whom they minister." The Conference of Bishops provides advice and counsel but is not an ELCA legislative body.
Homosexual rostered people
The current policy of the ELCA regarding homosexual rostered people is stated in its "Definition and Guidelines for Discipline" (revised 1993) and "Visions and Expectations: Ordained Ministry in the ELCA" and "Vision and Expectations: Commissioned Associates in Ministry" (1990). It is the policy of the ELCA that all single rostered people, including those who are homosexual in their self-understanding, are expected to abstain from sexual relationships."
The social statements of two predecessor churches that contain material guiding current ELCA policy are: Human Sexuality and Sexual Behavior: A Social Statement of The American Lutheran Church (A statement adopted by the Tenth General Convention of The American Lutheran Church, 1980) and Sex, Marriage, and Family: A Social Statement of the Lutheran Church in America (Adopted by the Fifth Biennial Convention, Minneapolis, Minnesota (1970)
The two studies
ELCA members, through congregational and other study groups, reviewed, discussed and completed response forms on two printed documents — "Journey Together Faithfully" Parts 1 and 2 — as this church seeks to respond to requests to bless same-gender unions and to ordain, consecrate or commission people who are in committed same-gender unions. These responses from study groups and individuals were used by the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality as they determined what recommendations to send to the 2005 CWA.
The 2005 CWA affirmed pastoral care for all people including people who are gay or lesbian, and continued to encourage the church to welcome gay and lesbian people into its life. In a related action, the assembly rejected a proposal that would have allowed the church, under special circumstances, to ordain gay and lesbian candidates for ministry who are involved in lifelong, committed same-sex relationships.
The task force was reconstituted after the 2005 CWA to work on a social statement that deals with the ELCA’s teaching on a wide variety of topics on sexuality. The target date for submitting a social statement on sexuality to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is 2009. ELCA churchwide assemblies are typically held during August of odd-numbered calendar years.
Resources for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality