Following the votes of the ELCA churchwide assembly in August (CWA09) and the implementation of new rostering policies by the ELCA church council regarding partnered gay clergy last month, the reinstatement of once-removed pastors continues around the US. First came Brad Schmeling and Darin Easler in Atlanta. This week, the Sierra-Pacific synod has reinstated a group of eight California pastors who were once rostered but subsequently removed because of same-gender partners.
A routine Lutheran candidacy committee meeting turned extraordinary today as the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved the reinstatement and reception of eight gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clergy.
Today’s meeting opens the door to complete the process of adding all eight to the roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran denomination in North America.All eight are currently or were previously on the roster of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, a movement within the Lutheran church to expand ministry opportunities for openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender pastors.
This week in Minnesota, another first: the approval of a lesbian pastor who had not previously been rostered. The Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper carried the story:
For seven years, the Rev. Mary Albing has been pastor of Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer in south Minneapolis. But the official roster of pastors lists the job as vacant.
Albing, a lesbian, couldn’t be recognized as a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Her stealth status ends Sunday morning when Bishop Craig Johnson of the Minneapolis Synod signs the original Letter of Call that Albing got from the church in 2003. She is believed to be the first lesbian to become a rostered ELCA pastor since the denomination voted last year to accept gays and lesbians in committed relationships.
“On one hand, it’s going to be a huge day, and I’m very excited about that,” said Albing, 55. “But at the same time, it’s not going to change anything in terms of what I do.”
In an earlier post, I suggested the national media has discovered the ELCA. Now, the secular blogosphere is noting that the ELCA may be a welcoming church after all. The change.org blog entitled “Gay Rights” notes that Albing’s rostering “marks the trajectory that the Lutheran Church as a whole is moving toward — that of a welcoming place for people of all stripes, regardless of sexual orientation.” And, Albing’s story is noted with approval in the blogosphere of the UK.
As a closing benediction, I will pass along the 20th anniversary story of one gay couple as reported by Pastor Roger Lovette, father of one of the partners, on his blog, Head and Heart.
We’ve learned a lot from them through the years. We’ve learned that being gay is not what one does but what one is as a person. We bristle when anyone says: alternative lifestyle—as if homosexuality was a choice. Ever heard anyone talk about the heterosexual lifestyle? Through this experience, we’ve learned a lot about injustice. Gay couples want the same legal rights and privileges as married folk. They want to serve in the military just like everyone else. To deny people who love one another full legal rights is just wrong. We have learned that to be different is no crime or sin.
We have come to know that all people are basically the same—with the same hopes and dreams. The tragedy is that when those that are gay are forced into a closet this becomes a crippling way to live. This silly idea that gay couples threaten or weaken the institution of marriage is strange. Can we blame gays when 50% of our marriages do not make it?
We have come to believe that Jesus really does love all the little children of the world. We believe that the prism through which we read the Scriptures must be filtered first through the spirit and attitude of Jesus. Jesus stretched out his arms and said: “Come ye…” and there were no exceptions.
But this we know. There is a couple in Philadelphia that have in their relationship what married people everywhere long for. Commitment, trust, caring for one another—in sickness and in health—a loving relationship. Matthew and Mark, like a multitude of others, have faced incredible odds when they courageously struck out together twenty years ago. But their ties have lasted and grown stronger. I am proud of our son and his partner and wish them many, many more anniversaries. They are role models for us all.
Wow. It’s no wonder why there is so much distrust and suspicion of ELCA leadership and decision making structures. Selective enforcement of boundaries and rules… Looking the other way… Finessing… A complete lack of consistency…
I should add that those quotes above are all from the StarTribune article linked to in the blogpost.
@Zach Thompson
Even in grace filled stories of a church of inclusion, some see the sinister.
This is controversial especially in the Obama backlash we are having nationally. However, Jesus said it best: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Well, it seems all of you miss the point..of course, not that I ever would…:)
Here is my problem with all your posts:
1) Zach, just because some bishops selectively enforced rules or V and E of ordained pastors doesn’t mean all ignored them. You are right to bring up the issue of inconsistency, for it applies in other areas. For example, for years I was told by a bishop an interim would never get a permanent position at a church he or she was serving as it was too much of an ‘inside” job. Well , guess what? Now I have heard of many interims getting the permanent call.
That is why I don’t believe what the ELCA did was heresy..it was heterodoxy, being of two minds. However, before last August, some bishops and leaders were faithful in not ignoring the V and E.
2) Obie, why is that the “progressive” side is always “grace based”, while the traditionalists are “sinister”. If you object to the ELCA, are you “sinister”? I guess if that is the case, you were “sinister” for the last 22 years for objecting to the V and E of pastors?
I find it very amusing we all have “issues” with our church, government, etc, but when they are our issues we are in the “right” and “graceful” , when the opposition, it is evil.
This is the problem with our nation today. Don’t just disagree, personally attack the character or integrity of others!
3). Lilly, please. No one has ever said on any side of any these issues they are without sin. Yes, we are all sinful. But discernment is different than judgment. We are called in scripture to be wise, discern, and the same Jesus who said “Let those without sin cast the first stone” also said “go and sin no more”.
But then, I am all wrong, I am sure…….
@Jeff
You read way too much in my comment. I made no suggestion that progressives are more graceful or that traditionalists are sinister. My comment was limited to this post, which I believe did convey stories of grace, and to the response of Zach, which I believe did suggest Pastor Albing’s relationship to the Mpls synod and her Bishop to be sinister.
Never said sinister or meant to imply it…(way to pick a choice word to give me especially negative spin, though 😉 )
Just observing that it is no wonder that there have been trust issues and confusion about structures and processes from all types of people in the denomination. There is/has been definitely a lack of consistency.
In looking at this particular example…a pastor would expect to be disciplined or admonished for blatantly challenging rules and procedures, yet a bishop seems to have much wider berth…
@Zach – if you are looking for 100% consistency – I’m sure that everyone will be 100% willing to do that, as soon as everyone else is also 100% consistent. I’m not going to hold my breath until that happens! As far as “consistency” being a “trust issue” “from all types of people in the denomination” – it seems to me to be actually that old demand that “I’ll trust you as soon as you are 100% consistent”, which (of course) never happens. And, since it can never happen it is the perfect foil to use to justify whatever it is that someone wants to do anyway. Hmmm … MAYBE that’s what is actually 100% consistent!
@Jeff
I have said this quote before on here and it is not mine “God made us a little lower than the angels and a little higher than the apes.” We often act like the apes or lower animals. I grew up on a farm that had cows that bunted each other around and chickens that pecked the weak chicken until she bled. We have wild ducks in our yard that chase each other from the feeder and are about as mean as they get. I have said this before semi-seriously- if God made us in His image and we treat each other the way we do, I wonder a little about the nature of that god.
I believe in a God that is so much bigger and so much more powerful than anyone could imagine , yet he cares about us. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could extend at least a little of that charity to others?
Keith,
So are you saying that if there is no chance of consistency that we shouldn’t have any standards or guidelines? This isn’t about imperfection or sin-any family would acknowledge that both parents and kids are sinful. That doesn’t stop (or shouldn’t)
the parents from creating expectations and rules , and where needed, uphold them. Would you agree?
Lilly,
I think one can be charitable and discerning. One can be compassionate, and firm. One can say there are certain expectations in human relationships, and attempt to fulfill those, and if a person fails, grace comes in and picks us up.
This is the great myth going on in the schism. That all who oppose it are heartless gay bashing homophobes. And that all who support it are heretical and evil people bent on taking the ELCA to hell.
Neither is true. I have many friends who disagree with me on this issue, they remain my friends (many of them pastors) . We disagree. Period. They know I am not hateful or a bigot, and that our church has invested heavily in Latino, African, and Native American. And we are finding new ways to forge ahead. I continue to respect their ministries, and what happened last August doesn’t invalidate anything or everything they do.
We all need to stop arguing about this and find new ways to work together, inside or out of the ELCA.
The divorce can be nasty, or amicable. I opt for the later. Many divorced spouses are friends and share in many things together, they just know they can’t live together. Sad? Yes, but reality for many .
Thanks Jeff. For the most part I agree. There seem to be extremes on both sides. A few in the ELCA are so liberal or delusional that they hardly qualify as Christian anymore. On the other side, we have a pastor who is trying to bring back the Lutheran Church he knew as a child. Where is the middle ground ? Discernment considers scripture, other people’s opinions in the fellowship of believers, gut level feelings, and some slower deliberation to figure out if what you want to do is from God,the devil, the world,or one’s own flesh. If tempers are flairing, and decisions are being made on that temper, it may not be from God. Not everything the ELCA had was wrong. There are years of well thought out liturgies, readings, and music that one can still use. Maybe Augsburg is failing, but lets not throw out the baby with the bath water.
I loved the quote by Pastor Roger Lovette:
“We believe that the prism through which we read the Scriptures must be filtered first through the spirit and attitude of Jesus.”
My husband and I firmly share this belief. Instead, we were pounded with Old Testament laws of Moses from Levitacus. What little dialog we were allowed at my old church had no room for conversation and agreeing to disagree.
Jeff, I heartily affirm that you can agree to disagree and still be amicable. But it can’t be one-sided and if the other party/group says “agree or get out”…well, it doesn’t work. I so wanted to understand and spent a lot of time and energy in trying to do so. However, all I know now is that God used this controversy to move me to a much better place. The rest will happen in His time.
@Jeff
I really like the way you posed the separation between the ELCA and the churches leaving it. I guess as the deserted spouse, I’m left puzzled as to why homosexuality is the straw that breaks the camel’s back, but that’s a conversation for another time. Just wanted to thank you for your ministry and your witness here.
@Lilly,
Things are moving slow but surely toward forming a SAWC. I’m actually excited about this new chapter…which is probably a good thing to focus my energy because the coup at my current congregation is nearly complete. Last weekend there was a vote to affirm faith in the clergy as well as a reaffirmation in affiliation with the LCMC. (NO vote to leave the ELCA. For those playing along at home, that measure was defeated.) Most of us, myself included, didn’t feel like voting for a mutual adoration society, and didn’t bother. But the leadership has decided that two votes to affirm membership in the LCMC means we are no longer an ELCA congregation. They will no longer acknowledge the bishop or the synod office.
The supermajority requirement, the declared was a synod contruction, not a congregational one. And since they aren’t going to answer to the synod, its rules don’t apply.
Only they forgot one thing: the supermajority was a part of the congregation’s constitution. The congregation mandated such a rule.
So, the rules only apply if you want them to. Power grabs by clergy seem about the same as coups in small, South American countries, and the mob rule carries more power than constitutional mandates. Period. But of course “we’re welcome to come back any time.”
Great Christian values I want to teach my children. /sarcasm
So if anyone wants to talk about pain, worshiping golden calves and how this has literally destroyed a congregation, come see me. Is anyone surprised that I look at the LCMC as a hostile takeover? I’m sure there are wonderful, nurturing LCMC congregations out there. Unfortunately, mine is not one of them.
But Instead of trying to fight that, I’m trying to hammer out a plan so our ELCA confirmation students can complete their studies on time, we have a Sunday School plan for the fall, and a plan for pastoral care for emergencies and mortality, and the right paperwork to make the IRS happy.
Yes, I’m still quite hurt and angry. But I’m trying very hard to focus on more positive things. I am ready for a formal separation. I am ready to focus on rebuilding a community and work toward bringing us together to celebrate and not to mourn. The one good thing that has come out of this process is that I have gone from an Armchair Lutheran to a more active member of the body of Christ. It has helped me reaffirm my faith and realize it is something worth fighting for and preserving.
Give yourself some time to heal. It won’t happen over night unless you get some kind of unexpected miracle. I am excited that our SAWC is going ahead here to work to become a real church. That they are going to meet outside of town 7 or 8 miles will probably be good because it won’t be just another Clintonville church. It will serve an underserved area. When you can face the other church members without spitting or whatever you might do, keep talking to them. There are often other people who were afraid to speak up but after while, might come your way. I don’t know how Camp McCoy is served but there must be some families that live off base ? I don’t know the tiny communities that surround Tomah other than those on 21 but there must be some that have potential . Good luck and God Bless.
…As I read all you comments it makes me sad. Some of you sound so harsh. Its time for those that want to go, to do so in peace. Its time for those of us that are staying to focus on rebuilding our mission and ministry. Its time to stop all the talking and listen to the ONLY MESSAGE THAT MATTERS…I found this prayer years ago on a Quaker site. When I get overwhelmed by the politics of Church I pray it…I think its appropriate:
God, forgive us. For 2000 years, we Christians have failed to live the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Instead of sharing with our sisters and brothers, instead of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and healing the sick; we have stored up treasures and sent the vulnerable, sick, hungry and homeless from our door.
Instead of forgiving, we have sought vengeance retribution, harsh punishment and death. Instead of crying out against injustice, we have dominated, discriminated and demeaned; and we have benefited from the economic oppression of our neighbors.
Instead of holding your Creation in sacred trust, instead of respecting the inter-connectedness and beauty of our universe; we have wasted and polluted, disrupted the balance, and ignored our responsibility to those who come after us.
Instead of loving our enemies, we have demonized them. Instead of peace, nonviolence and reconciliation; we Christians have unleashed in your name, violent crusades, slavery, the Holocaust, and nuclear war. We have killed through landmines, depleted uranium, bombing runs, smart weapons and economic sanctions.
We confess that we have neglected our prayer life and community building. We have lost our way and are not the people you called us to be. Accept our prayer and restore us. In your mercy, forgive us. Forgive us. Forgive us. Amen.
@Lilly,
Things are moving slow but surely toward forming a SAWC. I’m actually excited about this new chapter…which is probably a good thing to focus my energy because the coup at my current congregation is nearly complete. Last weekend there was a vote to affirm faith in the clergy as well as a reaffirmation in affiliation with the LCMC. (NO vote to leave the ELCA. For those playing along at home, that measure was defeated.) Most of us, myself included, didn’t feel like voting for a mutual adoration society, and didn’t bother. But the leadership has decided that two votes to affirm membership in the LCMC means we are no longer an ELCA congregation. They will no longer acknowledge the bishop or the synod office.
The supermajority requirement, the declared was a synod contruction, not a congregational one. And since they aren’t going to answer to the synod, its rules don’t apply.
Only they forgot one thing: the supermajority was a part of the congregation’s constitution. The congregation mandated such a rule.
So, the rules only apply if you want them to. Power grabs by clergy seem about the same as coups in small, South American countries, and the mob rule carries more power than constitutional mandates. Period. But of course “we’re welcome to come back any time.”
Great Christian values I want to teach my children. /sarcasm
So if anyone wants to talk about pain, worshiping golden calves and how this has literally destroyed a congregation, come see me. Is anyone surprised that I look at the LCMC as a hostile takeover? I’m sure there are wonderful, nurturing LCMC congregations out there. Unfortunately, mine is not one of them.
But Instead of trying to fight that, I’m trying to hammer out a plan so our ELCA confirmation students can complete their studies on time, we have a Sunday School plan for the fall, and a plan for pastoral care for emergencies and mortality, and the right paperwork to make the IRS happy.
Yes, I’m still quite hurt and angry. But I’m trying very hard to focus on more positive things. I am ready for a formal separation. I am ready to focus on rebuilding a community and work toward bringing us together to celebrate and not to mourn. The one good thing that has come out of this process is that I have gone from an Armchair Lutheran to a more active member of the body of Christ. It has helped me reaffirm my faith and realize it is something worth fighting for and preserving.