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September 28, 2009
Initial Reflections/Responses to the Sexuality Decisions of the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA (as they
relate to ministry at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church)
by the Council of the Congregation
- We are a diverse congregation with folks coming into our midst from a variety of backgrounds and
a variety of religious traditions. Some have had virtually no religious background before coming to
Shepherd of the Valley. Also, some in our midst have had very little contact with folks in samegender
relationships. Others have had much more, including having sons and daughters, other
relatives and friends in such relationships. We all bring different life experiences to the table,
some positive and some negative, when we begin talking about “publicly accountable, life-long,
monogamous, same-gender relationships.”
- In all our conversations and interactions, we urge all among us to keep Paul’s words in his letter
to the Colossians (3:12-17) on the “front burner” in our life together:
12As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint
against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And
let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be
thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all
wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17And
whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through him.
- Those 1,000+ delegates (60% laypersons and 40% clergy) from 65 different Synods who met at the
Churchwide Assembly in Minnesota in August and made the decisions we are responding to had
been studying and discussing these sexuality issues for a number of months and even years prior to
voting on them at the Assembly. Most, if not all, of the delegates were elected by their respective
Synod Assemblies at least a year in advance. In contrast, many at Shepherd of the Valley, including
your pastor, have not given these concerns nearly as much attention during this past year or even
months. Therefore, before responding to any of the Churchwide Assembly resolutions, this
congregation needs space and time to seek clarity on what actually did happen at the
Assembly as well as to study, listen and speak with and to one another.
- We are proposing that the beginning of that study/listening/speaking look like this: (Other
additional opportunities may be planned.)
- We will offer “DVD Replays” of the Bishop’s Conversation, which was held here on September
12, in two 1-1/2 or 2-hour segments at our church building for those who missed it the first time
around as well as for those who were there and would like to continue the conversation. The day
and time will be announced. Folks may sign up on the narthex shelving or call the church office to
add their name to the interested list. Pastor Grunow is willing to facilitate these sessions. Certain
Council members may divvy up these “Replays” and join him in these two-session conversations.
- Take-home DVDs of the Bishop’s Conversation are available for those who would prefer to watch
and listen on their own. Again, folks can sign up on the narthex shelving or call the church office.
- Pastor will be leading a 6 to 7-week study/discussion on “The Church, the Bible, and
Homosexuality” at the Thursday morning Women’s Bible study beginning Thursday, September
24, at 10 a.m. in the library. The class will look at what the Bible actually says and does not say
about this challenging topic. All women are invited. Even if you missed the first class session,
please come and join the conversation. Participants are asked to bring their Bibles.
- Jim and Georgia Girvan will be leading a 6-week study/discussion with the same title as a Sunday
Adult Forum class (10:10-11:05 a.m.) from November 1 through December 6. Everyone is
welcome.
- We are proposing that we as a congregation commit ourselves to “bear one another’s burdens,
love the neighbor, and respect the bound consciences of all” as we engage in these studies and
conversations.
- We further propose that during this indefinite time period of study and conversation we as a
congregation not act on Resolution 1, which gives congregations choosing to do so the option to
“recognize, support and hold publicly accountable life-long monogamous same-gender
relationships.” In other words, nothing we are presently doing at Shepherd of the Valley will
change unless and until this congregation at a regularly scheduled meeting decides to exercise its
option and make that change.
- In the meantime, we are committed to avoiding two extremes – the one of moving ahead as though
nothing has happened and simply ignoring the actions of the Churchwide Assembly, the other of
getting overly focused on these actions over the next 4-9 months and talking about nothing but these
sexuality issues. God has a Mission in this world – to love, save, give life, forgive, and bless this
creation. In and through Jesus, we at Shepherd of the Valley have been called to align our life
together to partner with God as that Mission unfolds in us and through us as Christ’s new
community in the world. We yearn to keep that Mission central and of highest priority as we seek
to journey together faithfully into the future.
In Christ,
Bill Martin, President
Warren Burda, Vice-President
Janelle Conaway, Secretary
Cindi Michalski, Treasurer
Kristen Nate, Member-at-large
Pat Stewart, Member-at-large
Jim Grunow, Pastor
An additional Council comments:
From Cindi Michalski:
I too realize that I did not give proper attention to this matter prior to the assembly's actual vote. As a line in the
quote from Colossians states, we should "teach and admonish one another in all wisdom." I look forward to
further respectful enlightenment via the wisdom of scripture and conversation with our church family.
Thanks very much.
From Pastor Jim Grunow:
Now, especially, is not a time to distance or cut-off from one another but to engage in conversation—learning,
listening and speaking to one another as we seek clarity and wisdom in continuing to move forward in faith—
gathering, empowering, and sending people into an ever-changing world as disciples of the living Christ.
If you would like to communicate your thoughts and responses about this document, you can utilize the link below.
pastor Grunow