Excerpt from ELCA Assembly

Assembly Encourages Restraint in Discipline of Congregations, Leaders

The Churchwide Assembly made no changes to ELCA standards for professional leaders, declining proposals that suggested specific policy changes. By a vote of 538 to 431, the assembly asked its synods and bishops to “refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining” people and congregations that call otherwise-qualified candidates in mutual, chaste and faithful committed
same-gender relationships, and it called for restraint in disciplining rostered leaders in committed same-gender relationships. The proposal was adopted as a substitute for a recommendation of the Memorials Committee.

Following the decision, Hanson said, “These are words of counsel. They are not words that change the standards of the church. They reflect the mind of this assembly as it seeks to give counsel to the leaders of this church.”

The Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality is currently developing a social statement on human sexuality for consideration by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Voting members referred to the task force memorials regarding same-sex blessings, ELCA clergy standards and other matters. The assembly added an amendment to its referral on clergy standards, directing the task force to “specifically address and make recommendations to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly on changes to any policies that preclude practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of this church.”