ELCA Churchwide Assembly - 2nd Update

Debate has begun on the proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality and as expected Neanderthal elements within the ELCA want the whole endeavor discarded and are retreating to their only real anti-gay argument: a few selected passages in the Bible. Employing this rational, of course, slavery is justifiable since slaves are told to obey their masters in the Bible and the slaughter of whole cities is cheered in portions of the Old Testament. Outdated bigotry and discrimination is easy to ignore when you are not the one who is being marginalized and stigmatized. Sadly, one representative from the Virginia Synod displayed the backward thinking that is all to common in the Commonwealth of Virginia where many continue to embrace a 19th century mindset regardless of advances in science and knowledge. I continue to hope that rational, modern thinking will prevail, but I am not holding my breath. In my experience, those who think themselves the most godly are frequently the worse when it comes to living the gospel message of loving others. Here are a few news highlights:

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Speakers opposing the social statement on human sexuality facing the Evangelical Church in America said they believed that endorsing the document would abandon the church’s reliance on the Bible and separate the Lutheran denomination from the majority of Christendom. But those favoring the document to be voted on later this week insisted that a greater acceptance of gays and lesbians in the church and its ministry is consistent with the command to care for one’s neighbor and to build trusting relationships. Comments made by the voting members of the churchwide assembly opened a one-hour discussion Aug. 18 on the proposed social statement on human sexuality to be considered later this week.

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Dr. Robert Benne, of the ELCA Virginia Synod said the whole project should be abandoned. “Call off the voting on the social statement on sexuality which will dramatically change our teaching on sexuality, from having teachings to having no teachings at all,” said Benne, the first of nearly 30 speakers to approach the microphones when the assembly met as a “committee of the whole” to discuss, but not formally amend the 10,000 word statement. Benne was one of several opponents contending that accepting gays and lesbians lacks biblical support. “This is God’s law and we cannot change it,” said Roy Gibbs of the Northwestern Ohio Synod. “Everyone of us here today knows what is right and what is wrong. Our father has written it on our hearts and on our minds.”

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Proponents of the statement say the clearly negative views of homosexuality do not deal with the kind of faithful, committed same sex relationships addressed in the proposed social statement. And referring to the statement’s concern for the exploitation of sexuality in society, McDivitt said the document “calls us to confront a demonic culture that destroys people and exploits the use of sexuality.” Y.T. Chiu described himself as a “former homophobe” who, encouraged by his pastor to look at the ELCA documents, changed his mind about the issue. “Change is good; being a rebel is not bad,” said Chiu, Northeastern Ohio Synod.

Sunday Reflections and Thoughts on "My Walk Down the Pink Carpet"

UPDATED: I spent the afternoon at friends in Virginia Beach - they have a gorgeous house on a lake with a beautiful pool. Today was likely the last of their summer Sunday afternoon potluck pool parties. As always, the crowd was entertaining and the all gay volley ball games in the pool were hysterically funny - there's nothing like a bunch of queens witrh some vodka punch in them to generate hilarious commentary, especially when the referee is doing his best imitation of Linda Richmond from the old SNL skits.

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.Last night's fundraiser event with Leslie Jordan was wonderful. His 90 minute show moved by swiftly and was both extremely funny and conveyed an important message about self-acceptance and not trying to live your life as others would have you live it as well. The place was packed as was the post-show event. The boyfriend and I got autographed books and also had a friend take our photo with Jordan who was very friendly and gracious. When I get the photo, I will post it if we come out looking decent. Afterwards, the boyfriend and I went to The Wave for some dancing. All in all, it was a wonderful evening.

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This morning marked the first discussion session at my church of the draft ELCA Statement on Human Sexuality which my boyfriend attended with me. It started out a little slow but warmed up in time and focused on gays in the church after an elegant older woman with a Katherine Hepburn accent - she looked to be in her 70's - threw down the gauntlet by stating that in her view sexual orientation was not a choice and that the ELCA just needed to accept that and fully include gays. I shared my experiences and the fact that 37 years of trying to change got me nowhere. Other members of the group added in their views that being gay was not a choice as well. The majority consensus seemed to be with her and it will be interesting to see how the next two sessions proceed. After the session we attended the 11:00 am service - my boyfriend's first time at an ELCA service - and he got to meet my friend from the summers of my youth who attends my parish.

ELCA Social Statement on Human Sexuality

Starting next Sunday and for the following two Sunday's my church parish, First Lutheran Church Norfolk ("FLC"), a member parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ("ELCA") will be holding a discussion group to review the draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality released by the national church earlier in the year. Participants will submit comments to the study group that prepared the draft statement and after ELCA members have had a chance to respond to this draft statement, the task force will then consider all comments and develop a proposed social statement, which is expected to be brought, through the Church Council, to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly for consideration.

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While the draft statement is an improvement over the church's current position, it stops short of supporting gay marriage although it does support recognition of committed gay relationships. I plan to attend the sessions with my boyfriend to make sure a gay perspective is heard by the parish participants. I am "out" at church and previously attended the parish with my former partner (we were listed as a couple in the church directory). This will be my boyfriend's first exposure to FLC. He is very spiritual and is the son of a Baptist minister who is accepting of his son, something all too rare among Baptists it seems from my experience. The leader of the FLC discussion group is a retired seminary professor and ordained pastor who is very much in support of updated thinking towards gays. I believe it is important that the b/f and I attend as a couple since I have found that bigotry and closed mindedness frequently dissolve when faced with real live individuals as opposed to some faceless concept. I will comment on how it goes in future posts.