Draft of proposed ELCA social statement on sexuality available March 13

The draft of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality will be available March 13. The task force received a final report on responses for “Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor: Lutherans Talk about Human Sexuality” part three of the “Journey Together Faithfully”—study materials for members of the ELCA—and the group spent eight sessions reviewing draft material of the social statement in closed, off-the-record sessions.

Members of the church can expect a draft document that is theological and examines human sexuality from a “deep Lutheran perspective,” said Bishop Peter Strommen, chair of the task force. He said the task force hopes the social statement will serve to benefit the church’s discussion on the topic of human sexuality.

“A social statement needs to build a theological foundation that engages the social context. On something as broad and complex as human sexuality, specific topics cannot be addressed comprehensively. The social statement’s implementing resolutions will lift up the areas that need greater attention from this church,” said Strommen.

“One way of picturing the social statement is a bridge. We seek to fashion a theological bridge that can handle the heavy traffic of human sexuality issues of our times and (to) do so without losing our evangelical focus,” said Strommen. The draft of the proposed social statement on human sexuality will be posted at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney and sent to clergy and other professional leaders of the ELCA.

Highlights of the Timeline
A complete timeline of the process can be found at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney.

March 12
Draft of proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality will be available for confidential review to rostered leaders on a designated website.

March 13
Draft of proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality will be available for ELCA members and the public on a designated website.

May 30-31
Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly, Prince of Peace Lutheran, Burnsville.

September 18
Saint Paul Area Synod hearings on draft of Social Statement on Human Sexuality. 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Roseville Lutheran, Roseville. The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments on the draft of the new social statement. A record of comments will be shared with the task force, which will consider them while crafting revisions for the proposed social statement released in 2009. Hearings are intended to be forums for comment and recommendations, so it is important to read the draft social statement prior to the event, since time will not be given to reading it together. Comments from hearings are critical to the process of crafting a proposed social statement. Forty percent of the draft of the Social Statement on Education, was changed after the hearings and before a final proposal was crafted for consideration at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly.

November 1
Deadline for responses to draft of Social Statement on Human Sexuality to task force.

February-April 2009
Synod councils provide feedback to ELCA Church Council.

April 2009
Final proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality, implementing resolutions, and recommendations available for discussion and action through synod assembly actions.

April-June 2009
Synod assemblies respond to final proposed social statement, implementing resolutions, and recommendations through memorials to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.

August 17-23, 2009
Churchwide Assembly considers final proposed social statement, implementing resolutions, and recommendations regarding changes.