St John Lutheran Church

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will meet in Minneapolis, MN August 17th, 4:00 PM – August 23nd. This 20th Anniversary Assembly of the soon to be 21 year old church will certainly prove to be the most historic.

Coming before the Assembly this year will be four major questions that will bring the 20 years of discussion about the ELCA approving of same gender ceremonies in the church and the ordination of openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons who currently are in, our who may contemplate being in, a committed relationship.

The four questions will be these:

1. Shall the ELCA allow congregations and synods to provide for same-gender marriage or quasi-marriage ceremonies in the church?

2. Shall the ELCA approve the ordination of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Trans-gendered persons who are in committed, monogamous, relationships or who may consider future committed relationships?

3. Should the first two be approved and become policy, will the ELCA commit itself to bear one another’s burdens, love the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of all?

4. If approved, that the ELCA make provisions for eliminating the prohibition of ordaining openly same-gender persons and the rostering of homosexual lay professionals?

If you have broadband internet service or wifi, you will be able to watch the entire Churchwide Assembly on the computer. Go to www.elca.org and click on “Live Assembly Broadcast”.

Forty-Two Synod Assemblies have endorsed the proposed change in policy with 16 Synods recommending defeat. The final decision will be made by the 1045 Voting Members of The Assembly by a simple majority. Consequently 525 people may be able to approve the change.

Many have asked me what will happen here with St. John Lutheran? I can only say, “St. John must determine that.” Our Annual Congregational Meeting is set for September 27th. We will talk about this at that time. I share this with you to once again make you aware that The ELCA will likely be making headlines when the assembly meets and to make you aware of the webcasts that will be available to you.

Be prepared!

Pastor Henry Schulte