Pondering Pastor

I knew when I posted it that my previous note would not be my last about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. What I did not predict was the topic on which I’d be compelled to write.

Of the pages and pages of notes and debate topics I summarized, the one getting the most comments has to do with the ELCA Assembly action on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. I’ve chosen not to authorize those comments to appear on this blog for a variety of reasons. Most who have posted comments have been very passionate about their perspective. I’ve been told that God will only bless those nations protecting Israel. I’ve been told that the ELCA position with respect to Israel and Palestine is the primary cause of conflict in all matters within the ELCA. I’ve been told that the ELCA supports terrorism, the destruction of the United States, and teaching children to prefer death over life. I’ve been told that we need to consider the spiritual implications of boycotts of Israel.

So that we know what is being discussed, here is the recommendation from the Memorials Committee:

Recommendation for Assembly Action

• To receive the memorials from the Pacifica Synod, Metropolitan New York Synod, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, New England Synod, Southeast Michigan Synod, and Metropolitan Chicago Synod and to thank them for their support of efforts by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to promote peace with justice in the Holy Land;
• To note the participation of the ELCA in ecumenical and inter-religious forums where religious extremism is addressed;
• To acknowledge the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine, including its call for “increased engagement with conservative Christians and a clearer and more forceful expression of Lutheran theology in the public debate . . .”; and
• To call upon the ELCA, in all of its expressions, to recommit itself to the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine through awareness-building, accompaniment, and advocacy activities, including pilgrimage visits, sustained financial support, and other forms of economic stewardship.

This was amended to include the following

• To call upon the ELCA to underscore the call for economic initiatives by this church and its members in the peace not walls campaign. Such initiatives, in consultation with the Evangelical Lutheran church in Jordan and the Holy Land could include purchasing of products of Palestinian providers and exploration of the feasibility of refusing to buy products produced in Israeli settlements. Also to be explored is the entire investment activity activity by this church. Examination of investment would exclude the option of divestiture.

Nowhere is a boycott of Israel mentioned.  People are encouraged to learn about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  For instance, did you know that not all Palestinians are Muslim … many are Christians, and some of those are Lutheran?  How does a Christian church address injustice directed toward other Christians?  I would encourage readers of this blog to visit the ELCA Peace Without Walls pages to learn something about the conflict and what we are encouraged to do in promoting peace.

Pondering Pastor

First, thank you to all who read and commented on the efforts to record for you some of the significant elements of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly. This was a huge undertaking, and one that was facilitated by the ELCA Communications people, especially Mim Woolbert and Paul Edison-Swift. This would not have been possible in this detail had the ELCA not decided to publish a caption feed of the Assembly, which I could capture (most of the time). Please note that I did not blog the entire Assembly. I was able to watch the webcasts and comment on those actions, but the Assembly is so much more than the actual time doing the official business of the church. In another forum, these kinds of comments were made …

• The first gift I received at the Assembly was affirmation by God’s Spirit that the congregation I serve is truly being guided by the Holy Spirit.
• The second gift I received was that my Synod is truly blest.
• The third gift I received was experiencing a wonderful connection to the members of the ELCA. What a wonderful church we have! THANKS BE TO GOD!
• The CWA, all in all, was more like a “spiritual retreat” for me than a “business meeting.”
• I was involved in MANY informal conversations about a number of issues, including the sexuality issue. I got separated quite a few times from people in my group, and wound up being at worship and having meals with people from all over the country with many different views. I am fully confident that the Holy Spirit is leading and guiding the ELCA.

And it is precisely that which I cannot write about this time around, doing this from a distance.I love this church. I care that we are so divided in matters related to human sexuality. I’d like to see the “sides” get together and find ways to agree, to find common ground. I’ll be doing what I can to make that happen.

We are not as divided as we think.  Pastor Zip served as a “page” at the Assembly.  Note this post on his blog.

Pondering Pastor

Blue Ribbon Committee on Mission Funding

An amendment was proposed encouraging congregations to provide 10% of income to Mission Support.  Amendment failed.  Vote on original motion plus one previous amendment passed 623-52.

Lutheran Services in America

Presentation by Bishop Gregory Pile and Mr. Ted Goins, Jr.

Consideration of Memorials

All matters in D4:  Requests of Churchwide Units

There was a request that Lutheran Disaster Relief Funds might be used to repair churches … centers of community recovery efforts.  After an exchange of information, and a report that a consultation is taking place in late September/early October, the concern and an amendment was withdrawn.  D4 was passed unchanged 627-12.

En Bloc Memorials passed 595-12.

Motion from the floor to ask that the Conference of Bishops enter into discussion about the accountability of Bishops to the adopted policies, practices, and procedures of the ELCA and report to the 2009 Assembly. Ruled germane. Passed 318-309.

Report of the Reference and Counsel Committee [I do not have the wording on these motions]

• HIV/AIDS Funding passed 586-13
• Budget Surplus for Campus Ministry passed 558-23
• Green Assemblies, refer to Office of the Secretary for electronic distribution of Assembly materials passed 555-40
• En Bloc approved Motion D: Appreciation for Presiding Bishop Hanson; Motion E: Appreciation for Vice President Pena; Motion F: Appreciation for Secretary Almen; Motion G: Appreciation for Treasurer Jackson-Skelton; Motion H: Resolution of Appreciation and Thanksgiving

2009 Churchwide Assembly begins August 17, 2009 in Minneapolis.