2009 Churchwide Assembly Blog

On Friday morning and afternoon, the 2009 Churchwide Assembly deliberated prayerfully for several hours over the proposed ministry policies resolutions relating to the previously passed social statement on human sexuality.  The full records of the plenary session are listed on the ELCA’s 2009 Churchwide Assembly Web site, and a brief, generalized summary is listed below:

• Resolution 1 [passed, 771-230, with amendment] is a statement of intention for members of the church to “bear one another’s burdens” in the implementation of the ministry policies resolutions.
• Resolution 2 [passed, 619-402] states that the ELCA will commit to allowing congregations that choose to do so to recognize same-gender unions.
• Resolution 3 [passed, 559-451] accepts those in same-gender unions to serve as rostered leaders in the ELCA.
• Resolution 4 [passed, 667-307, with amendment] defines specific issues of church policy regarding rostered leaders in same-gender unions.

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This afternoon, the 2009 Churchwide Assembly passed a resolution approving full communion sharing between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The United Methodist Church.  (See the voting results.) Many are wondering about full communion and any theological differences between the ELCA and UMC.

A full communion agreement suggests the following characteristics:

• a common confessing of the Christian faith;
• a mutual recognition of Baptism and a sharing of the Lord’s Supper, allowing for joint worship and an exchangeability of members;
• a mutual recognition and availability of ordained ministers to the service of all members of churches in full communion, subject only but always to the disciplinary regulations of other churches;
• a common commitment to evangelism, witness, and service;
• a means of common decision making on critical common issues of faith and life;
• a mutual lifting of any condemnations that exist between churches

A recent news release by the United Methodist News Service describes it this way:

In essence, full communion means that each church acknowledges the other as a partner in the Christian faith, recognizes the authenticity of each other’s baptism and Eucharist, observes the validity of their respective ministries and is committed to working together toward greater unity.

The definition of full communion found in Paragraph 2401.2 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline says such a relationship “does not mean there are no differences or distinctions between the churches, but does mean that these differences are not church dividing.”

Theological discussions have been taking place for decades between Lutherans and United Methodists.  “This moment was built on many other moments and hours, prayers and effort over 30 years,” said UMC Rev. Betty Gamble.  A more complete explanation of the ELCA/UMC agreement, including perspectives on Baptism, Communion, ordained ministry, doctrines of justification, sanctification, and perfection, can be found on the ELCA’s Bilateral Conversations page, particularly this .PDF file: ELCA-UMC Frequently Asked Questions.

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ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson led a press conference this afternoon to address questions regarding the main issues under debate at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.  Several topics were raised, including

• the proposed strategy toward HIV/AIDS,
• the proposal of the ELCA entering into full communion with the The United Methodist Church, and
• the upcoming vote on the ELCA’s proposed social statement on human sexuality and the recommendation on ministry policies

Hanson expressed his hope that the assembly would remain a “clear, non-anxious, participatory process”  as the ELCA representatives discuss and debate potentially contentious issues.  The representatives, Hanson said, “are here as representatives of the whole church,” rather than of their synods or congregations.  “Our unity is in Christ.”

This week’s upcoming votes regarding the ELCA’s statement and policies concerning sexuality have drawn much attention, both outside the church (as in this recent NPR article) and within the church.  This press conference was no exception, but Hanson sought to express that there is more to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly than the question of sexuality.  (A full list of items awaiting a vote this week can be found on the ELCA’s assembly Web site.)

Video of the press conference is available online at www.elca.org/assembly/video, and the churchwide assembly’s plenary sessions can be viewed online as they are taking place at www.elca.org/livevideo.

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