Pastoral Pondering
by Pastor Keith Larson
I once again spent several days as a visitor at our ELCA Churchwide Assembly. A pastoral colleague said to me, "You are like an Assembly 'groupie,' aren't you?" I affirmed she was right in her observation. I have been present at many of Assemblies over the years. I value these events somewhat like many of you value Sunday mornings. Bethlehem or St. Mark is your home – you are comfortable there – you know folks there. You come to see them as much as you come for Word and Sacrament. Bethlehem and St. Mark are home for me too. But the ELCA is home, too. I am a pastor of these congregations of Bethlehem and St. Mark. But, I am also a pastor of the ELCA. The ELCA is my home. These gatherings of every two years give a chance to connect and reconnect with people I know and meet folks I do not know. I have had the privilege of connecting with Lutherans around the world and in many capacities in our ELCA so attending an Assembly or other churchwide events is 'coming home'.
This Assembly took historic steps. How that history plays out remains to be seen. Some would have us believe we marked the beginning of the end of the ELCA – that the steps we took were so contrary to God's will we have no future – or the future will be full of division and separation. Others believe we now stand at the door of a new brighter church, more open to the gifts of all, regardless of sexual orientation. Some saw God's Spirit blowing through the Assembly, filling our church with new life. One radio station saw the small tornado that hit the Assembly Hall while we met as a sign of God's judgment on us. But sometimes it takes a while to see how God will work.
I could not help but recall that almost 40 years ago at similar conventions (no I was not at that one) a very controversial radical move was made when the predecessor churches voted to allow for the ordination of women. It passed by 57% vote – hardly an overwhelming majority. People have said that allowing gay and lesbian persons in partnered relationship to be pastors is a very different issue. However, most of the arguments 40 years ago were similar to the arguments we heard at this Assembly. "The Bible speaks clearly against this. It is against God's will." Some people believed then, that the end of the Lutheran church was near. However, that did not occur. Most (but certainly not all) would point how our church has been blessed these last 40 years by the inclusion of women as pastors. Now we have voted by 55% to allow for the possibility of ordination (and "rostering") of partnered gay and lesbian persons. Only time will tell whether God will look kindly on our actions, or whether we will see we did indeed cross the line of impropriety.
I fully agree with another observer at the Assembly from the Quad-Cities who was quoted in the Times and said, "I am confident of two things: One, if you are in a congregation that does not see the need to change your practices in response to these votes, no one will force you to do so. Number two, if you are in a congregation that sees aligning with these changes as an opportunity to grow your ministry, no one will prohibit you from doing so."
As someone who has attended at least parts of many of these Assemblies, I can say that this recent decision has certainly come from the grassroots rather than from the top down. Over the years, decisions made or votes taken have brought our church closer to last week's decision. I was certain that it was just a matter of time, and was not sure whether this year would be the time or not. No one can predict the outcome of these Assemblies, for anyone of the over 1000 voting members can take the floor and say anything or propose most anything "germane" to the business at hand. The fact that this Assembly had proposals presented to them is a result of someone rising two years ago and moving that a committee provide the 2009 Assembly with proposals to vote yes or no on. I commend Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson for his fair, even-handed, helpful pastoral way he presided over the week's proceedings that were contentious and spirited.
Some have already talked to me about your thoughts and concerns on these matters. I am willing to visit with anyone and will respect your opinions and feelings, whatever they are.
