CHICAGO — A long-awaited draft statement by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) shies from taking a position on homosexuality, saying the church has yet to reach consensus on the matter. Current ELCA policies, which bar noncelibate homosexual clergy, are not discussed in the draft released March 13. And while the church “recognizes the historic origin of the term ‘marriage’ as … between a woman and man,” the statement also notes that some ELCA pastors and congregations support same-sex unions.
Nearly seven years in the making, the “Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality” is intended as a framework for future ELCA debates on sexuality. Compiled by a 15-member committee of bishops, pastors, professors, a psychologist and a homemaker, the draft now begins an eight-month comment period within the ELCA, the nation’s largest Lutheran body. A second draft will be produced after the comment period. (TAB)
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