ELCA Endorses Job Protection for Gays, Lesbians; Acts on a Variety of Propo

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA)   The Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America expressed support Wednesday, its closing day, for legislation that would make it illegal for employers to discriminate against gay and lesbian persons on the basis of their sexual orientation. The assembly met here Aug. 14-20.
     The resolution expressing the assembly's support for the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act now before Congress was one of several that responded to various concerns raised by the ELCA's synods -- geographical areas -- of the 5.2 million-member church body.  Other issues in "memorials," or proposed resolutions from the synods, included aid for Latvian theological students, ministry in rural areas and pension-plan issues.
     Legislation that would protect employment rights of gay and lesbian persons "rewards sexual dysfunction at the expense of the traditional family," argued voting member Martha Stott of Evansville, Ind., during debate on the issue.  But another member, the Rev. Deborah Taylor of Minneapolis, said the bill does not endorse any sexual orientation "but basic human and civil rights."
     In addition to supporting the bill now before Congress, the assembly affirmed in general "the advocacy of synods and the Division for Church in Society in support of laws barring discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation."
     Among other actions on issues raised by synods, the assembly:
     + Without debate, reaffirmed the ELCA's commitment to serving and
       advocating on behalf of refugees and immigrants.  The assembly
       encouraged congregations and their members to study what the Bible
       says about hospitality to strangers, but it declined to begin work
       on a social statement on immigration.  It did, however, refer to
       the Division for Church in Society requests for materials related
       to the topic and asked the division to bring to the Church Council
       in November a plan for addressing concerns raised by three synods
       over the treatment of immigrants and refugees.   The assembly also called on ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson, church workers and lay members to contact President Bill Clinton, federal agencies and Congress "to oppose the denial of vital services, including health and education, to immigrant people and the creation of unreasonable obstacles and unattainable standards of proof of persecution for those seeking asylum within the United States of America."
     + Asked that a plan for establishing a rural-ministry "desk" at the
       ELCA's churchwide office be presented to the ELCA Church Council
       by next spring.  The assembly also reaffirmed a commitment to
       rural and small-town ministry declared by the 1993 Churchwide
       Assembly.   Although the assembly's Memorials Committee recommended that a request for such a desk be referred to the Division for Outreach, the assembly accepted an amendment designed to make such an advocate for rural and small-town ministries a reality.  The Rev. David Moreland of Bellefontaine, Ohio, who offered the amendment, argued that without a rural desk, "there is no one to present the concerns of rural areas and small towns" to ELCA churchwide leaders and staff.
      + Referred to the Divisions for Ministry and for Global Mission a
        memorial from the ELCA's New England Synod calling for
        internships, study programs and scholarships for theological
        students from the Lutheran Church in Latvia.  The Rev. John K.
        Stendahl, said one reason for singling out Latvian students for
        special assistance is that Latvian church leaders are currently
        receiving "moral and financial support" from the Lutheran
        Church--Missouri Synod.   "We should not be silent and without influence in Latvia, which is why we make this resolution," Stendahl said.
      + Responded to requests to base church-worker pensions only on
        length of service and not on salary levels by instead calling on
        congregations, synods, the churchwide organization and other
        church agencies to provide adequate compensation and retirement
        benefits to church workers.  The assembly also agreed with a
        Church Council decision to retain a schedule of lump-sum survivor
        benefits based on both age and salary but to increase the minimum
        benefit for survivors.
      + Asked that the Church Council review "without prejudice" the
        ELCA's disciplinary process.  The assembly also authorized the
        Church Council to act on any recommendations resulting from the
        review.  The assembly action was in response to a Metropolitan New
        York Synod resolution questioning the decision of the ELCA's
        Committee on Appeals in a disciplinary case involving one of the
        synod's pastors.
      + Asked ELCA Secretary Lowell Almen "to be in conversation" with the
        Northeastern Minnesota Synod about a synod proposal to grant
        congregations that operate under constitutions that pre-date the
        founding of the ELCA ten years ago more flexibility in amending
        those constitutions than possible under current church policies.
      + Finally, approved all other Memorials Committee recommendations
        concerning synod memorials in one "housecleaning" resolution.

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html