11-25-09 Discernment Process Timeline Update!  See attachment below...

The Congregational Forum on September 16, 2009 confirmed the fact that Christ The King is something of a microcosm of the ELCA where there is a wide range of opinions and beliefs on the topic of human sexuality.  Faithful people with varying views spoke with passion in response to the Church-wide Assembly (CWA) resolutions and social statement.  The social statement acknowledges the lack of consensus and recognizes varying degrees of understanding, while at the same time urging all people to live out their faith with profound respect for the conscience-bound belief of one another.  From Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust:

The ELCA acknowledges that consensus does not exist concerning how to regard same gender committed relationships, even after many years of thoughtful, respectful, and faithful study and conversation. We do not have agreement on whether this church should honor these relationships, uplift, shelter, and protect them or on precisely how it is appropriate to do so. In response, this church draws on the foundational Lutheran understanding that the baptized are called to discern God’s love in service to the neighbor. In our Christian freedom, we therefore seek responsible actions that serve others and do so with humility and deep respect for the conscience-bound beliefs of others. We understand that, in this discernment about ethics and church practice, faithful people can and will come to different conclusions about the meaning of Scripture and about what constitutes responsible action. We further believe that this church, on the basis of “the bound conscience,” will include these different understandings and practices within its life as it seeks to live out its mission and ministry in the world. This church recognizes that, with conviction and integrity:

• On the basis of conscience-bound belief, some are convinced that same-gender sexual behavior is sinful, contrary to biblical teaching and their understanding of natural law. They believe same-gender sexual behavior carries the grave danger of unrepentant sin. They therefore conclude that the neighbor and the community are best served by calling people in same-gender sexual relationships to repentance for that behavior and to a celibate lifestyle. Such decisions are intended to be accompanied by pastoral response and community support.
• On the basis of conscience-bound belief, some are convinced that homosexuality and even lifelong, monogamous, homosexual relationships reflect a broken world in which some relationships do not pattern themselves after the creation God intended. While they acknowledge that such relationships may be lived out with mutuality and care, they do not believe that the neighbor or community are best served by publicly recognizing such relationships as traditional marriage.
• On the basis of conscience-bound belief, some are convinced that the scriptural witness does not address the context of sexual orientation and lifelong loving and committed relationships that we experience today. They believe that the neighbor and community are best served when same-gender relationships are honored and held to high standards and public accountability, but they do not equate these relationships with marriage. They do, however, affirm the need for community support and the role of pastoral care, and may wish to surround lifelong monogamous relationships or covenant unions with prayer.
• On the basis of conscience-bound belief, some are convinced that the scriptural witness does not address the context of sexual orientation and committed relationships that we experience today. They believe that the neighbor and community are best served when same-gender relationships are lived out with lifelong and monogamous commitments that are held to the same rigorous standards, sexual ethics, and status as heterosexual marriage. They surround such couples and their lifelong commitments with prayer to live in ways that glorify God, find strength for the challenges that will be faced, and serve others. They believe same-gender couples should avail themselves of social and legal support for themselves, their children and other dependents, and seek the highest legal accountability available for their relationships

Although at this time this church lacks consensus on this matter, it encourages all people to live out their faith in the local and global community of the baptized with profound respect for the conscience-bound belief of the neighbor. This church calls for mutual respect in relationships and for guidance that seeks the good of each individual and of the community. Regarding our life together as we live with disagreement, the people in this church will continue to accompany one another in study, prayer, discernment, pastoral care, and mutual respect.
 

The Executive Board and pastoral staff met to discuss the forum conversation. Though the action of the CWA was a defining moment for the ELCA and the congregations that are a part of it, the leadership is resolved to not allow it to become the single defining issue at Christ The King. The Executive Board will bring a recommendation to the Church Council in October to develop a discernment process as to how we can best live out our mission as a congregation with this new reality.

This will be a discernment process for our entire congregation to determine how we can continue to function effectively as we work together for God’s preferred future at CTK. During this time we will be guided by the statement of faith as articulated in our church’s constitution. The goals that grew out of our strategic plan provide the lens through which we will view all future ministry and the three goals that grew out of the plan will continue to give direction to that ministry. Until such time as this discernment process is completed, all policies will remain as they are now.

We continue to be called by Christ to minister to all people, and renew our commitment as a congregation to act as a caring community to empower all to know Christ and to make Christ known.

To read the entire social statement, go to www.elca.org .    

Update!  To read a Church Council update on the church-wide assembly action in reference to the sexuality issue, and to view the Discernment Process Timeline, please see attachments below.