Goodsoil: Events Timeline

A Timeline of Important Events Leading Up to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis

2001 2002 2003 2005 2007 2008 2009

2001
• ECP-candidate and pastoral minister Anita Hill is called and ordained by St. Paul-Reformation (St. Paul, Minn.). The congregation was censured and sanctioned by the synodical Bishop. Sanctions are lifted by a subsequent synodical bishop on Martin Luther King Day in January 2003.

• Partially in response to Rev. Anita Hill’s ordination, the assembly decides to implement a churchwide study on homosexuality, providing for the process to include the creation of a study document on homosexuality, a first report to be brought to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly, and a final report, complete with action steps for full implementation, to be presented to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.

• Assembly resolves that the church “charitably respect one another as we examine our understanding and practices, speaking the truth in love and practicing the “mutual conversation and consolation of the saints” (Luther).

• Assembly requests a “specific plan and timeline leading to a decision concerning the rostering of homosexual persons who give expression to sexual intimacy only in a relationship that is mutual, chaste, and faithful,” to be presented to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.

• Assembly initiates a process to develop a social statement on human sexuality.

• Church Council receives the report on the proposed statement on human sexuality, resolving to “continue thoughtful, deliberate, and prayerful conversation throughout the ELCA about human sexuality.” Church Council encourages refining the proposed options for this church’s response by an exploration of the Lutheran understanding of the Word of God as foundation for the process and by developing a congregational study guide.

2002
• Rev. James M. Childs Jr. is appointed as director for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality. A 13-person task force is selected, chaired by Bishop Margaret G. Payne (New England Synod).

• Church Council recommends approval of a six-year time line for the studies on sexuality, a communications plan, and a total budget of $1.15 million for the six-year study.

2003
• Assembly requests the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality to continue to include the concerns of youth and young adults.

• Assembly supports the ongoing work of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality, especially about blessing of same-gender relationships and ordination of those in committed relationships.

2005
• Assembly urges ELCA to “concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements.”

• Assembly resolves to “continue to respect the guidance of the 1993 statement of the Conference of Bishops” on blessings of same-gender relationships; and further, that the “church welcomes gay and lesbian persons into its life and trust pastors and congregations to discern ways to provide faithful pastoral care for all to whom they minister.”

• Assembly fails to pass substitute motion that calls to “continue to accept the standards for rostered leaders in Vision and Expectations and Definitions and Guidelines” and calls “for their fair and consistent application for all rostered leaders of the ELCA.”

• Assembly fails to pass Resolution III, which would provide separate (and not equal) procedures for ordination and rostering of LGBT persons in committed, same-gender relationships.

2007
• Pr. Bradley Schmeling, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Atlanta, is charged and put before a discipline hearing for being in a committed, same-gender relationship. In its decision, the Hearing Committee finds with “near unanimity” that the ELCA policy is “at least bad policy” and may be in violation of the constitution of the ELCA. Nevertheless, bound by policy, the Hearing Committee orders Bradley be removed from the clergy roster effective August 15, 2007, leaving time for the Committee on Appeals to declare the policy unconstitutional and/or the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to change the policy.

• Committee on Appeals refuses to declare discriminatory policy unconstitutional and orders that Rev. Bradley Schmeling be removed from ELCA roster immediately (i.e. prior to 2007 Churchwide Assembly).

• Twenty-two synods in assembly direct the ELCA to eliminate discrimination against ministers in a same-gender partnership and the congregations who call them. These synods include Grand Canyon, Greater Milwaukee, Metro New York, Metro Washington DC, Metropolitan Chicago, Minneapolis Area, New England, New Jersey, Northeastern Minnesota, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Northern Illinois, Northwest Washington, Oregon, Rocky Mountain, Saint Paul Area, Sierra Pacific, South/Central Wisconsin, Southeastern Iowa, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southwest California, Southwestern Washington, Upstate New York.

• Eighty-two lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Lutheran ministers introduce themselves to the ELCA at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly in Chicago. Names and biographical information on all the 82 are published in a devotional booklet called “A Place Within My Walls” offered as a gift to the voting members at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly in Chicago.

• For the first time ever, a current Bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) presides at worship organized during the churchwide assembly by advocates of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) equality. Pastor Bradley Schmeling preaches. Over 650 worshippers attend, including at least 12 bishops.

• Assembly declines to accept substitute motion calling for the elimination of discrimination against ministers in a same-gender partnership is defeated by a vote of 450 Yes – 581 No.

• The assembly decides by vote of 538-431to encourage its bishops to refrain from or demonstrate restraint in the discipline of rostered ministers in committed same-gender relationships. The motion reads: “RESOLVED, that in an effort to continue as a church in moral deliberation without further strife and pain to its members, the Churchwide Assembly prays, urges, and encourages synods, synodical bishops, and the presiding bishop to refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining those congregations and persons who call into the rostered ministry otherwise-qualified candidates who are in a mutual, chaste, and faithful committed same-gender relationship; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Churchwide Assembly prays, urges, and encourages synods, synodical bishops, and the presiding bishop to refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining those rostered leaders in a mutual, chaste, and faithful committed same-gender relationship who have been called and rostered in this church.”

• The Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality is currently developing a social statement on human sexuality for consideration by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Voting members referred to the task force memorials regarding same-sex blessings, ELCA clergy standards and other matters. The assembly added an amendment to its referral on clergy standards, directing the task force to “specifically address and make recommendations to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly on changes to any policies that preclude practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of this church.”

2008
• The Task Force for ELAC Studies on Sexuality releases the Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality. Over one hundred public hearings on the statement are held throughout the ELCA. Approximately 2000 written responses sent to churchwide offices.

• ELCA Church council decides to recommend no super-majority changes to normal rules regarding the actions coming before the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.

• Goodsoil’s Policy Change resolution passes with flying colors in the St. Paul Area Synod and was referred to the synod council under favorable conditions in the Northwest Washington Synod. The Blessings resolution, calling for resources and guidelines to be developed for the blessing of same-gender relationships, passed in three synods (St. Paul Area, Northwest Washington, and Northeastern Pennsylvania). The Anti-Violence resolution, calling for concrete steps to be taken in fighting violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, passed in four synods (St. Paul Area, Northwest Washington, Metro New York, Metro DC). Six opposing resolutions and memorials were defeated in Northwest Washington, West Virginia/Western Maryland, Pacifica, North Carolina, Northern Illinois, and Southwestern Pennsylvania.

2009
January Task force meets and “signs off” on PROPOSED social statement on human sexuality, implementing resolutions, and report and recommendations on ministry standards to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly regarding changes to any policies that preclude practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of this church.

February 18, 1:00 p.m., EDT Confidential preview for rostered leaders of Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality, and Report and Recommendations on Ministry Standards.

February 19, 1:00 p.m., EDT Public release of Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality, and Report and Recommendations on Ministry Standards.

March 5-10 Conference of Bishops meets to review proposed social statement.

March 13-14 Church in Society program committee advises the program unit for Church in Society regarding the text of the proposed social statement on human sexuality and implementing resolutions.
Executive director of Church in Society recommends the proposed social statement on human sexuality and implementing resolutions to ELCA Church Council.
[Note: Task force recommendations regarding changes to any policies that preclude practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of this church go directly to the Church Council.]

February-April Synod councils may bring resolutions to the ELCA Church Council related to the proposed social statement on human sexuality, implementing resolutions, and report and recommendations on ministry standards.

March 27-30 ELCA Church Council reviews work of task force and will be asked to RECOMMEND the finalized text of the Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality with implementing resolutions, and the Report and Recommendations on Ministry Standards. It will be asked to direct that these be placed on the Churchwide Assembly 2009 agenda.

April RECOMMENDED social statement on human sexuality, implementing resolutions, and report and recommendations on ministry standards are available to the church for discussion and response through synod assembly actions.

April 2 ELCA Church Council’s finalized text of RECOMMENDED proposed social statement with implementing resolutions, and RECOMMENDED report and recommendations on ministry standards published online.

April-June Synod assemblies discuss and respond to both the RECOMMENDED proposed social statement with implementing resolutions, and the RECOMMENDED report and recommendations on ministry standards.

August 17-23 ELCA Churchwide Assembly considers both the recommended proposed social statement with implementing resolutions, and the report and recommendations on ministry standards.

Keep updated about Goodsoil and Churchwide Assembly 2009.

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