Bishops issue pastoral word on Task Force documents
Reporting that its own conversations "expressed the diversity of opinion that is common throughout the church," the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed the church in a "pastoral word" concerning the contents of the church’s proposed social statement on human sexuality and recommendations that could make it possible for people in committed same-gender relationships to serve on the ELCA’s rosters.
In its pastoral word, the conference said its members are convinced of two things: that the time of preparation for the 2009 Churchwide Assembly "is a hopeful time" and that the Holy Spirit is guiding deliberations. "This same Spirit increases our ability to listen patiently and speak honestly to one another," the conference wrote.
Referring to the proposed social statement, the conference said it rejoiced in "the strong affirmation of the gift of marriage, sexuality and family," and it affirmed "the faithful exposition of Holy Scripture and Lutheran Confessions." The conference said it supported the proposed statement's "bold confrontation of the commercialization of human sexuality" in the culture and acknowledged "the unity of the Church is the Holy Spirit's continuing gift."
