Thursday, March 19, 2009

The View from the Back of the Bus

The ELCA released a document called "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" last month. This is the result of eight long years of "study" and conversation and general unease, ostensibly around "human sexuality," but really around "gay human sexuality." We're not actually studying straight humans, because we're already marrying and ordaining them. We studied them a long time ago, apparently, and didn't find them objectionable.

You can download the document here: http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality.aspx I will warn you now that it is long. But...as a special bonus for those who order today...you'll also receive the "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policy." That's the somewhat shorter document that proposes that we sort of adopt a policy for some synods and congregations--only the ones who want to--to call a gay or lesbian pastor, if they are so inclined.

I am really glad that we're making progress. I really am. We would be one of the only Christian denominations in the country with openly gay and lesbian pastors (accent on "openly"--we've all got gay pastors) if the recommendation is adopted. We already know that there are synods and congregations which will follow the procedure and open their call processes to gay and lesbian candidates. Probably not the synod in which I reside...

...and that's a bit of a rub. Not the part that makes this about me, exactly, but the part that makes this about all of the qualified candidates who still won't be considered, because the ELCA would make considering gay and lesbian candidates totally voluntary. A bishop whom I like and respect very much said this today in a press release: "No congregation or institution will be forced to call a leader they do not wish to call."

It is true generally in our denomination that a congregation can never be "forced" to call a minister they don't wish to call. Our pastors are called, not appointed, as in some other denominations. But it is also true that we don't allow congregations to close their call process to candidates on the basis of other considerations, like race or gender. So the Sexuality Task Force recommendations allow for a separate-but-equal sort of system, in which the vast majority of congregations will likely still choose not to consider gay or lesbian candidates.

So I'm a little grumbly about the whole thing, and would really like to know what some of you gentle readers think.

So what do you think?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

well.. a separate but "equal" system has not worked before.. well I guess it worked but this country decided that there really was no such thing as separate but equal. The very basis of the idea allows institutionalized discrimination. It is wrong.. it has always been wrong.. someday maybe the church will catch up with reality..
Niki

John said...

Unfortunately, I am not sure if there is another way in which we might be able to move forward. I wish that we were recognizing same sex relationships without all of this angst but, accepting the Task Force's recommendations gets us in that direction and perhaps the next generation's church will be able to look past this. Even now, I would hate to see a bishop send a woman to a resistant congregation. Ministry is hard enough without her needing to fight that battle.

Anonymous said...

well there has been angst over this issue for a long time... I am not sure that waiting for everyone to catch up to what is right.. or what is fair accomplishes anything. Sometime you have to take your seat at the FRONT of the bus and tell those that would rather not see or hear from you that it is time. People who sat at the diner counters or those that walked past racists slinging insults and death threats while they were trying to go to an integrated college suffered.. but they knew that without them nothing would ever change. It is time for justice and I believe that Jesus Christ would ask nothing less of us than to turn over the "money changers carts" and speak to the church about what is right.
Niki

John said...

Waiting for people to catch up? You mean like instituting a 10 year moratorium like some have suggested? I can't see that happening so I am unclear as to where you think that the waiting is coming from. Some may wish to wait but others of us will proceed apace.

Anonymous said...

The waiting I was speaking of was "perhaps the next generation's church will be able to look past this" ... my friend .. the future is here and this church.. this beautiful complicated church has to hear the people speak truth and then DO something about it.
Niki

John said...

I don't disagree except I am not willing to wait for the next generation. Some folks have waited long enough.

Anonymous said...

I don't think waiting is possible any more... I say Revolution!
Niki