Pr. Ken Kimball forwarded this report from the Western Iowa Synod:
From the Western Iowa synod assembly this past weekend:
Passed:
#8A A Resolution concerning 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Actions
Regarding “Report on Ministry Policies”
WHEREAS many ELCA members believe that marriage should only be between one (1) man
and one (1) woman; and
WHEREAS many ELCA members feel that the Bible does not approve of sexual activity
outside of the above definition; and
WHEREAS there is question that the majority of ELCA church membership believes that
people in publicly accountable, life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships should be
accepted for rostered leadership; and
WHEREAS the ELCA has lost membership following the action of the Churchwide Assembly
in approving the “Report on Ministry Policies,” be it therefore
RESOLVED that the ELCA revisit the “Report on Ministry Policies” reversing the approval of
the Report so that people in publicly accountable, life-long, monogamous, same-gender
relationship would no longer be accepted for rostered ministry, requiring all rostered leaders to
acknowledge “Vision & Expectations Ordained Ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America” from 1990 as the standard for their practice of ministry, as well as not formally
recognizing, officiating, nor conducting any ceremony which contradicts an understanding of
marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman.
