On this page we are making available to individuals and congregations of the ELCA some sample resolutions representing the positions and values of Lutheran CORE. The resolutions below may be reproduced and distributed locally. They have been put together and edited by the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee, to be introduced in ELCA conferences and synods for 2007. More resolutions may added in the future:
WHEREAS Holy Scripture reveals and teaches in Matthew 28:19 that God is named Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and
WHEREAS Jesus directs us to pray to God as Father (Matthew 6:9 and Luke 11:2); and
WHEREAS Martin Luther in the Small Catechism reminds us that God "is truly our Father and we are truly his children" (Introduction, Lord's Prayer); and
WHEREAS the ELCA's confession of faith begins with, "This church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" (2.01, ELCA Constitution); and
WHEREAS Evangelical Lutheran Worship, a service book of the ELCA, frequently prefers other titles for God beside the names of the Holy Trinity and often indicates the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as only one option among others for the name of God; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Synod memorialize the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to declare that the ELCA give specific and intentional priority to the name of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in its worship and educational materials; and memorialize the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to direct the ELCA Secretary to send this declaration to:
Resolution on Official Blessing Ceremonies of Same-Sex Sexual Relationships
WHEREAS, the 2005 Orlando Churchwide Assembly passed a resolution to "continue to respect the guidance of the 1993 statement of the Conference of Bishops" regarding the blessing of homosexual relationships; and
WHEREAS, the text of the 1993 Bishops' Statement states, "There is basis neither in Scripture nor tradition for the establishment of an official ceremony by this church for the blessing of a homosexual relationship. We, therefore, do not approve such a ceremony as an official action of this church's ministry;" and
WHEREAS, former bishop Kenneth Sauer, the Chairperson of the Conference of Bishops at the time of the adoption of the statement in 1993, distinctly recalls the purpose of the statement as being to refuse to approve any ceremony that would appear to give public approval by the ELCA to same-sex unions; and
WHEREAS, any ceremony approved by an ELCA synod or congregation is an official action of this church's ministry;
WHEREAS, any attempt to use the "pastoral care provision" as a basis for providing official blessings of same-sex unions would be to use the phrase in an unintended way; and
WHEREAS, the New England Synod has promulgated "Guidelines for the Blessing of Same-sex Unions" that officially endorse the public blessing of homosexual relationships, thereby directly contradicting the 1993 Bishops' Statement and the actions of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly to endorse the 1993 Statement; and
WHEREAS, these actions that directly violate the decisions of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly make it more difficult for all of us to heed that Assembly's other guidance that all in the ELCA "live together faithfully;"
Therefore, be it RESOLVED, that [this synod] memorialize the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to reaffirm that the 1993 Bishops' Statement as endorsed by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2005 does not approve the "official" blessing of homosexual relationships, which includes any blessings for which approval is given by a synod or congregation,
and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [this synod] memorialize the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to direct the Church Council and the Office of the Secretary to notify all ELCA synods and congregations to refrain from public blessings that imply approval of same-sex sexual relationships.
Background Information
Resolution to Wait for 2009 Social Statement
WHEREAS, the ELCA concluded an exhausting four-year study and debate over ordination of non-celibate homosexual persons at its 2005 Churchwide Assembly in Orlando by declining to change current policies; and
WHEREAS, the continuing conflict over this matter is divisive and distracting from the mission of the ELCA; and
WHEREAS, the task force on sexuality is scheduled to present a social statement on sexuality to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the disciplinary case of Pr. Bradley Schmeling in the Southeastern Synod has been used as a pretext for reopening this question; and
WHEREAS, the Schmeling disciplinary committee heard no evidence supporting the current guidelines and exceeded its authority by improperly recommending that this year's synod assemblies seek to overturn the decisions made at Orlando;
Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED that [this synod] memorialize the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly at Chicago not to reopen the issue of ordination of non-celibate homosexual persons before the report of the Task Force is received in 2009.
Background Information