Upper Susquehanna Synod resolutions

RESOLUTIONS AND A MEMORIAL PRESENTED TO THE UPPER SUSQUEHANNA SYNOD, JUNE 11, 12, 2004 AT SELINSGROVE, PA.

RESOLUTION: A resolution concerning the changing of ordination standards in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

WHEREAS, the 2001 Churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted resolutions that call upon this church to study Homosexuality with reference to two issues: the blessing of same-sex unions; and the ordination, consecration and commissioning of people in committed same sex unions; and

WHEREAS, the recommendations of the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality are to be presented at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly; and

WHEREAS, the changing of the ordination standards, as stated in the document Vision and expectations* has the possibility of dividing the church; there be it

RESOLVED, that the 2004 Upper Susquehanna Synod Assembly requests that the ELCA Church Council require that any vote to change the standards for ordinations as stated in the document Vision and Expectations be passed by a two-thirds majority vote by both the Church Council of the ELCA and the 2005 Churchwide Assembly; and also be it

RESOLVED, that the 2004 upper Susquehanna Synod Assembly requests that the Upper Susquehanna Synod Council transmit to the ELCA Church Council this resolution for the ELCA Church Council’s consideration in the ELCA Church Council’s deliberation on the matter and in the ELCA Church Council’s development and recommendation for the proposed “Rules of Organization and Procedure” to be submitted to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America.

Submitted by Rev. Michael Greenauer, Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Berlin, Pennsylvania, and the Buffalo Valley Conference, Upper Susquehanna Synod..

THIS RESOLUTION WAS PASSED BY THE UPPER SUSQUEHANNA SYNOD - ELCA

RESOLUTION ON POSTPONING A VOTE ON THE QUESTION OF ORDINATION OF ACTIVE HOMOSEXUAL ROSTERED PERSONS

WHEREAS, the ELCA has adopted a process of discerning a social ethic about human sexuality, especially homosexuality, concluding with a legislative discernment in 2007, and

WHEREAS, the ELCA has adopted a process of deciding if active homosexuals can be accepted into the rostered ministry with a legislative discernment in 2005, and

WHEREAS, to fulfill this process would be to adopt the process before accepting the principle(1); and

WHEREAS, others in the ELCA are suggesting a delay on a vote regarding active homosexuals in the rostered ministries; (2), and

WHEREAS, to engage in a policy / practice decision without overwhelming consensus is to adopt a decision according o the Kingdom of Power rather than the Kingdom of Grace and, hence, contrary to a Lutheran understanding of establishing public policy and principles (3); therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Upper Susquehanna Synod petition the Church Council and Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA to delay voting on the question of active homosexual rostered persons until after it has adopted a social statement on sexuality, including homosexuality.

Submitted by The West Branch Conference, Upper Susquehanna Synod – ELCA

(1) Thus violating a Lutheran ethical caveat against “Oaths in Uncertain Matters” (Judges 11)

(2) i.e. Bishop Peter Rogness of the St. Paul Area Synod.

(3) Consider the “consensus-building” exercise in Acts 15. The Judaizer “debate” has the same secular format and, hence, spiritual uselessness as those who “crave for controversy and dispute about words” in I Timothy 6:4. It is only when Peter, speaking by Apostolic Authority moves the discussion out of debate and into salvation-history that the assembly can keep silent and listen to Paul and Barnabas as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. Ultimately the decisionIS a consensus: It seemed good to the apostles and elders, with the whole church . . having come to one accord.

THIS RESOLUTION WAS PASSED BY THE UPPER SUSQUEHANNA SYNOD - ELCA

WHEREAS the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is engaged in studies of human sexuality and homosexuality, and

WHEREAS these church-wide studies are exploring the specific issues of:

(a) blessing same-sex unions and

(b) ordaining gay and lesbian person living in committed relationships, and

WHEREAS the Confession of Faith of the ELCA commits this church to regarding the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as "the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith and life" and the Lutheran Confessions as "further valid interpretations of the faith of the Church,"

WHEREAS the Bible states God's position of His abhorrence of homosexual activity, calls it sin which separates from him, and is to be confessed, repented, of, forgiven, and abstained from; and this is clearly spoken about in such passages as: Genesis 19:5; Leviticus 18:2 & 20;13; Romans 1:26-27; I Corinthians 6:9; I Timothy 1:9-10;

WHEREAS both the Word of God and our Lutheran Confessions state that a sexual relationship is created only for the marriage bed between one man and one woman; and that all other sexual relationships are to be abstained from outside of marriage: Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6; I Cor. 7:2-4; Eph. 5:22-3; I Tim. 3:2; I Pet. 3:1-7; The Augsburg Confession, Art. 23; The Smalcald Articles, Art. XI; and Martin Luther's Small and Large Catechisms explaining the 6th Commandment;

THEREFORE, as a result of our examination of the ELCA study documents that have been presented to the church by the appointed Task Force on human Sexuality,

BE IT RESOLVED that The West Branch Conference of the Upper Susquehanna Synod - ELCA affirms and endorses as a faithful expression of biblical and confessional teaching regarding the question of blessing same-sex unions, those statements regarding human sexuality and homosexual behavior already adopted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and predecessor bodies, to wit, the statement of the October 1993 meeting of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, that "There is basis neither in Scripture nor tradition for the establishment of an official ceremony by this church for the blessing of a homosexual relationship.

We, therefore, do not approve such a ceremony as an official action of this church's ministry;" and, as a faithful expression of biblical and confessional teaching regarding sexual conduct of ELCA pastors and particularly the question of ordaining gay and lesbian persons in committed relationships, the statement contained within the 1990 ELCA Church Council document Vision and Expectations, that:

"The expectations of this church regarding the sexual conduct of its ordained ministers are grounded in the understanding that human sexuality is a gift from God and that ordained ministers are to live in such a way as to honor this gift. Ordained ministers are expected to reject sexual promiscuity, the manipulation of others for purposes of sexual gratification, and all attempts to sexual seduction and sexual harassment, including taking physical or emotional advantage of others. Single ordained ministers are expected to live a chaste life. Married ordained ministers are expected to live in fidelity to their spouses, giving expression to sexual intimacy within a marriage relationship that is mutual, chaste, and faithful. Ordained ministers who are homosexual in their self-understanding are expected to abstain from homosexual sexual relationships;" and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The West Branch Conference, Upper Susquehanna Synod - ELCA affirms the following statements of biblical and confessional principles of the Lutheran Church in support of the previous actions of the ELCA, and as a guide to the deliberations of the ELCA committee guiding the church wide studies on human sexuality and homosexuality:

We believe, teach and confess that:

1. Sexuality is a good gift God graciously bestows on humanity for the sake of love, devotion, and procreation.

2. By creating us male and female, God has built a complementary relationship into the very fabric of human existence.

3. Marriage, the lifelong union of fidelity between one man and one woman, is the only relationship God has ordained for the full expression of human sexuality. (See previous Biblical and confessional list.)

4. Marriage is neither a private arrangement nor merely a human contract or custom. It is, rather, a divine institution by which God has founded a Covenant relationship between a man and a woman "in a joy that begins now and is brought to perfection in the life to come." (Lutheran Book of Worship, p. 203 - the marriage ceremony)

5. Neither the Scriptures nor the Lutheran Confessions grant any authorization to the church to recognize as divinely approved any relationship other than the marriage of one man and one woman for the full expression of human sexuality; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The West Branch Conference of the Upper Susquehanna Synod - ELCA memorialize the Upper Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA in Assembly to affirm these scriptural and confessional principles regarding human sexuality and homosexual behavior and to adopt no changes in its teaching or practice that contradict these principles, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the West Branch Conference of The Upper Susquehanna Synod - ELCA memorializes the Synod Assembly of this synod to memorialize the ELCA Church Wide Assembly to affirm these scriptural and confessional principles regarding human sexuality and homosexual behavior and to adopt no changes in its teaching or practice that contradict these principles.

Submitted by Pr. Robert H. Logan, et al.

THIS MEMORIAL WAS CARRIED OVER TO SYNOD COUNCIL AS UNFINISHED BUSINESS DUE TO A CALL FOR “ORDER OF THE DAY” (ADJOURNMENT).

Pr.Robert H. Logan, SPOC for Upper Susquehanna Synod - ELCA