ELCIC National Convention Articles/News

Same Sex Blessings Motion Defeated

By a vote of 220-183, with 5 abstentions,delegates to the ELCIC’s 10th biennial national convention defeated the resolution to allow individual congregations to bless the union of same-sex couples. In addition to the brief reports on the convention which appeared at the Solid Ground web site (see below), a more detailed account is provided at the Lutherans Concerned web site from their perspective. Of particular interest in the Lutherans Concerned report are the capsule summaries of statements made in favour and against the same-ses blessings motion during the debate. Also, reports on the convention have appeared in The Record (Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo), the Anglican Journal the Edmonton Journal ("Albertans fuel vote against gay unions"), and at the ELCIC web site. Press releases on the convention have been issued by the ELCIC and Lutherans Concerned.

Convention Report - Day 3 (Saturday, July 23rd)

National Church Council's Resolution on Same Sex Blessings Defeated: The resolution was defeated with a vote breakdown as follows: 220 opposed (54%), 183 in favour (45%) and 5 abstaining (1%). In an earlier motion adopted by the convention, a two thirds majority would have been required to pass the NCC Resolution. That motion, setting the bar higher, just barely reached a two thirds majority set for it as well.

Elections to National Church Council: The following were elected to the National Church Council:
Alberta Synod (ordained): Trish Schermund
Alberta Synod(lay): Robert Schmidt
B.C. Synod (lay): Judy Kochendorfer
Eastern Synod (ordained): Douglas Reble
Eastern Synod (lay 1): Elizabeth Hachborn
Eastern Synod (lay 2): Teddy Pope
MNO Synod (ordained): Mark Koenker
Saskatchewan Synod (lay): Heidi Hesselink
[Note: The elected delegates given above need to be confirmed with the official
record.]

Roger Kingsley (currently a member of the National Synod Council) was elected as Vice-President on the Third Ballot, receiving 200 (52%) of the 387 votes
cast. A close second was Rev. Glen Johnson (Ascension, Calgary)with 163(42%)votes.

[Note: This concludes the Convention Reports.]

Convention Report - Day 2 (Friday, July 22nd)

Election of Bishop: Three quarters of the vote was required for an election in the first ballot on Thursday. On Friday morning ot was reported that Raymond Schultz (the current bishop)received the largest number of votes (163 or 43% of total votes (358) cast) but not not enough votes to meet the three quarters threshold for the first ballot. In the second ballot, where 387 votes were cast, it was necessary for a candidate to recive two thirds of the votes to be elected. Again, Raymond Schultz garnered the most votes (201 or 52% of the votes cast)but fell short of the two-thirds required for election. Candidates placing second and third were Stephen Kristenson (Bishop of Alberta) with 70 votes and Glen Johnson (Ascencion, Calgary)with 69 votes. On the third ballot, where a simple majority was required for election, Raymond Schultz was elected as national bishop receiving 214 (53%) of the 401 votes that were cast. Runner-ups were Glen Johnson with 84 votes and Stephen Kristenson with 71 votes.

Constitutional Amendments: For the second reading of the constitutional amendments, items 1) to 6) Click Here for the link to the document were considered as one motion. However, as a result of an amendment, Part 6, relating to convention rules, such as the number of delegates, was deleted, and only parts 1 to 5 were passed as a single motion. As a result, the convention rules remained as part of the constitution (requiring two successive conventions to amend)rather then being moved to the by-laws where the convention rules could be changed more easily since by-law changes do not require two sucessive convention votes.

Petition from Grace Lutheran, Kelowna questioning the constitutionality of the resolution on same sex blessings: In its report to the convention, the
Committee of Reference & Counsel recommended that "the convention proceed with the motion as presented by the NCC, which we find in order, at the time specified in the agenda, without resort to the Court of Ajudication". By a vote of 224 for and 108 votes against, the convention accepted the Committee of Reference & Counsel's recommendation and thus there will be no vote on Grace, Kelowna's motion to refer the matter to the Court of Ajudication (which would have meant that a decision about the NCC's Resolution would have been deferred until the next convention two years hence).

Concerning inistry to Help Persons Wanting to Leave Same-Sex Life Styles: Reference & Counsel also recommended against voting on a motion "That the ELCIC provide guidance, materials, and support for local parishes that want to offer a Christian ministry specifically for persons who want to exit same-sex life styles". The convention decided by a vote of 156 for and 149 against to table this motion pending the outcome of the the NCC's Resolution on Same-Sex Blessings to be voted upon on Saturday morning.

Convention Report - Day 1
The first (half) day of the convention was fairly uneventful and involved items like welcome/greetings, convention committee appointments, treasurer's report, and adoption of the agenda. The national bishop Raymond Schultz advised the delegates that the red ribbons (carrying the wording "Taking a Stand on the Word of God"), which had been made available by the "takingastand" movement, could not be worn by delegates while on the convention floor as some of the delegates would be intimidated/pressured by such a gesture. The main order of business was Ballot #1 for election of the National Bishop. The results of the first ballot are to be reported to the convention delegates tomorrow (Friday).

takingastand Launches Web Site
As of June 15th, a total of 2729 members from 177 ELCIC congregations from coast to coast have expressed their support for the takingastand Statement of Concern related to the Resolution on Same-Sex Blessings. To learn more, to watch the numbers grow, and to add your support, visit takingastand's informative web site.

Petition Questions the Constitutionality of the Resolution on Same Sex Blessings
Grace Lutheran Church, Kelowna, B.C. has submitted a petition to the ELCIC National Convention which makes a very powerful and convincing case for the unconstitutionality of the National Church Council's Resolution on Same Sex Blessings. The petition basically asserts that the approval of the blessing of same sex unions involves making decisions concerning social issues and matters of life and faith and, accordingly, such rights may not be delegated to individual congregations (local option) to decide. The petition calls upon the National Church Council (NCC) to make a motion at the 2005 Convention which would refer the matter to the Court of Adjudication and, if the Convention approves the motion, then the NCC resolution would essentially be tabled.

Making Your Voice Heard
Suggestions on how to make your voice heard, including signing on to thetakingastand Statement of Concern, with respect to the current debate about the ELCIC's stance towards homosexuality and the National Church Council's "Resolution on Same Sex Blessings" (scroll down to see the resolution)

An Urgent Call for Prayer
With the ELCIC's National Convention a little over a month away, we encourage you to set aside time for prayer for the Church. Follow this link for "Forty Days of Prayer".

The Forum Focuses on the National Church Council’s Resolution on Same Sex Blessings
The June 2005 issue of The Forum, the newsletter for the Synod of Alberta and the Territories, focuses on the National Church Council’s resolution regarding a local option for same-sex blessings. Included in this issue are: “One Congregation’s Response, written by the Church Council of Calvary Lutheran, Edmonton; “A View from Outside the ELCIC” by Archbishop Thomas Collins of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton; "Luther, Sin, and Salvation" by Pastor Bart Eriksson; “If it is Natural is it OK?” by Rev. Dr. Lothar Schwabe; and “A Crisis of Leadership”, an editorial by Pastor Brad Everett.

ELCIC 2005 National Convention Web Page
The ELCIC has created a special web page which provides information about the upcoming national convention to be held in Winnipeg this July. At the site one can find a form for registration, the National Church Council's three-part resolution on same sex-blessings and accompanying Background Statement, and Questions and Answers concerning the resolution.

What Does it Mean to Seek a "Greater Consensus"?
This article examines what it means to adopt a "local option" for same-sex blessings as "a middle way…until such time as a greater consensus can be achieved".

"Local Option" - An Old Testament Perspective
An Alberta pastor examines how the Old Testament speaks to us today as we consider the "local option" in regards to same-sex blessings for the ELCIC.

A Controversy Has Arisen Among Us
An Eastern Synod pastor provides his reflection on the current controversy in the ELCIC which concerns the effective use of God's Law.

Anglicans 'expel' Canada
In a November 2003 press release, the ELCIC’s National Church Council introduced an action plan for addressing same-sex blessings. “Implications for our ecumenical relationships” was among the plan’s five recommended criteria which were to be considered for any engagement on the topic. This report about the serious rift developing between the Anglican Church of Canada and the world-wide Anglican Communion over a decision by the diocese of New Westminster, B.C. to authorize the blessing of same-sex unions warrants serious consideration of the effect upon our ecumenical relationships should the NCC’s Resolution on Same Sex Blessings be adopted at the ELCIC National Convention.

Same Sex Blessings: Why are We Folding Like Cheap Tents?
A layperson from Surrey, B.C. expresses concern that the ELCIC is "folding like a cheap tent" under the pressure of government and people’s freedom of expression that surrounds us today.

Proposed Church Blessings of Homoerotic Behavior
A layperson from Calgary having deep roots in the ELCIC (family has been active members of the ELCIC and predecessor bodies for over 100 years) offers 11 reasons to reject the National Church Council's Resolution on Same Sex Blessings.

Six Impossible Things
With the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, who tried to believe six impossible things before breakfast each day, in mind, a teacher in religious studies from Halifax offers his own list of "six impossible things" that we are being asked to believe if we accept the “local option” for same-sex blessings.

O, Canada!
This article by Rev. Brad Everett, pastor of Nazareth Lutheran Church in Standard, Alberta was recently released by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau as a preprint of an article to appear in the July issue of their publication The Forum Letter. Pastor Everett’s article traces the process whereby “the ELCIC has moved at the ecclesiastical, equivalent of the speed of light toward blessing ‘local option’ for same-sex blessings”.

Same-Sex Blessings - How Did We Ever End Up Here?
A lay member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Surrey, B.C. sent this thoughtful essay, a compelling testimony of her faith, to her pastors and church council.

Same-Sex Blessings – A Delegate’s Perspective
A convention delegate from Alberta, and also a candidate for a lay position on the National Church Council (NCC), offers his perspective on the NCC's Resolution on Same Sex Blessings.

Anglican Commission Concludes that Same-Sex Blessings is a Doctrinal Issue and Thus Cannot be a 'Local Option'
The recent assessment by the Primate's Theological Commission of the Anglican Church of Canada that the blessings of same-sex unions is "a matter of doctrine" speaks as well to the argument made by the ELCIC's National Church Council that the provision of same sex blessings "is primarily an issue of pastoral care and not confessional integrity" and thus "can be decided locally".

Lutheran vote on 'local option' will be difficult decision
Rev. Dr. Peter Mikelic, a member of the ELCIC's National Church Council and a regular contributor to the Anglican Journal on Lutheran affairs, provides his perspective on the upcoming ELCIC National Convention. Interestingly, we have to learn through an Anglican publication that our National Bishop paid a visit to Ottawa to talk to members of Parliament and policy-makers about same-gendered unions and marriage, and "left with the sense that our church is reflecting the politics of Canada".

The Local Option: "A reasonable compromise" or "a recipe for organizational self-destruction"?
A retired pastor from the Eastern Synod gives his assessment of what it means for the church to adopt a local option for same-sex blessings.

Gagnon Critiques the ELCA's Recommendations and Study Guides on Homosexuality
Noted theologian Dr. Robert Gagnon's recent critique of the ELCA's recommendations and study guides on homosexuality speaks as well to the ELCIC National Church Council's Resolution on Same Sex Blessings, which will come before the delegates to the 2005 ELCIC National Convention this July in Winnipeg.

A Retired Pastor's Insights
A retired Lutheran pastor from Alberta offers a series of thoughtful short essays that speak to the issues of the day.

A Pastor's Message to His Church Council
A Winnipeg pastor shares with his church council the factors that shaped his perspective on the issue of same-sex blessings.

Word of God or word of Man?
Solid Ground's response to the National Church Council's "Resolution on Same Sex Blessings" which will come before the delegates to the 2005 ELCIC National Convention this July in Winnipeg.