A look back at my week in Minnesota at the ELCA Churchwide Convention

Jon Fredricks, Director of Annual Giving at Midland Lutheran College, offers the following reflection on the recent ELCA Churchwide Assembly and his participation in it.

About a year and a half ago, I was elected to serve as a voting member for the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. From our 65 ELCA Synods in the United States, 1045 people were called to do the same. As one of the 26 from our Nebraska Synod, I was both honored and humbled by this opportunity and the immense responsibility it carried.
The discussion and debate on the social statement on sexuality, and the ministry policies was obviously the most challenging of the week. As you probably know, the discussions and recommendations have been going for many many years, and became more specific when the task force for human sexuality was called together by the Bishop seven years ago.
My congregation in Omaha, St. Michael Lutheran Church, will take pause to reflect and discuss on how the changes impact the ELCA. I do not think for a moment that we will leave the ELCA, and those who feel strongly in their convictions against these new policies I hope and pray will do the same. Dividing our church, or leaving our church at this time, no matter how strongly one feels these decisions to be taking our church the wrong way--or how convinced we may be that these policies uphold sin as we know it to be, I feel is not the right choice.
Here's how I see it, after being engaged fully and faithfully leading up to the Churchwide Assembly, and after hearing the stories and convictions of all who were a part of our discussions last week:
There are so many and varied people in God's world. We are called love everyone, as God loves us. Scripture is the word of God, as interpreted by man. And scripture can guide us in making our decisions. But if you read scripture only in making these types of decisions, women would not be allowed to preach, and slavery would also still be allowed. We all need to be cautious when quoting scripture.
I cannot determine what is sin or sinful. I have my own ideas on this, but only God can be the true and final judge. I'll leave that up to God. I can continue to love my neighbor, and serve my church. You may have heard the term "bound conscience" tossed around a lot and used in helping to define how we can "agree to disagree" within our church on these matters before us. What this means is that we are all bound by our conscience to what we believe is right and true in the eyes of God. We can still be the church, together, even though we may disagree on some matters.
The changes made, I feel, offer positive change for those individuals and congregations who need and desire leadership and have a calling to serve gay/lesbian individuals who struggle with the societal taboo of homosexuality. It also offers little or no change for congregations or individuals who do not feel the changes are in their best interest. My guess is that it will have little or no effect on the congregation I grew up in, Immanuel Lutheran in Glenvil, a small congregation in south-central Nebraska. No church will be forced to call a pastor who they feel does not fit in line with their own congregations, or even include a pastor in their call process for review of the calling committee. Other churches and individuals within their congregations will be blessed by the changes to ministry policies regarding the ordination of gay and lesbians who are in committed, monogamous same gender relationships.
Bishop Hansen realizes the pain and challenges these changes will have on many within our church. Here are his words:
"Take time with your decision. Step back and understand the magnitude of the decision if you choose to leave, because we will be diminished by your absence." The Good News of Jesus Christ is "too good to squander with internal conflicts that will drain our energies when our capacity to bring the Good News to the world so that all might know Jesus."
I would offer that you and others among you who feel let down by your church to do the same.
The week included many other wonderful and spirited conversations and policy implementations, including the ecumenical partnership with the United Methodist Church. All in all, I feel affirmed in my faith and in my church after being a part of the Churchwide Assembly.