A petition to “stop all ELCIC resources spent supporting same sex issues” of ELCIC staff and decision making bodies has been made. ELCIC is to stop from expending any additional human or financial resources on initiatives supporting same-sex blessings, same-sex marriage or ordination of practicing homosexuals. This has been proposed by Trinity Lutheran Church, Ponoka, AB.
This petition like all petitions regarding same-sex blessings or other matters has been
“excluded from the official ELCIC Convention Book of Reports. ELCIC Bishop Susan Johnson and ELCIC National Church Council (“NCC”) took this unprecedented action at the March, 2009, NCC meeting.”
As a result of their action, convention delegates will be unable to review and reflect on the congregational petitions regarding official ELCIC policy relating to human sexuality.
The initiative to bless same-sex unions has consumed hundreds of thousands of dollars of church resources over the past ten years. The past two ELCIC conventions refused to allow same sex blessings to be sanctioned by the ELCIC. It is time to direct the Bishops, NCC and the Synods to focus their limited time and scarce ELCIC financial resources on initiatives other than the blessing of same-sex unions and/or ordination of practicing homosexuals
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PETITION
“STOP ALL ELCIC RESOURCES SPENT”
“SUPPORTING SAME SEX ISSUES”
Resolution Regarding ELCIC Human and Financial Resources
Motion:
No financial or human resources of the ELCIC, at either the National or Synod level, are to be expended in relation to any initiatives supporting same-sex blessings, same-sex marriage or ordination of practicing homosexuals. National Church Council, Division employees, Department employees, Synod Councils, National Bishop, Synod Bishops and Synod Committees, Synod Offices and Synod employees must cease any further action related to enabling members of the Roster of Ordained Clergy of this church or any congregation from performing or participating in any capacity in the blessing or marriage of same-sex couples or same-sex groups of people or the ordination of practicing homosexuals. Action includes, but is not limited to, discussion, analysis, review, policy formulation and motion preparation relating to any aspect of Pastors of the ELCIC performing same-sex blessings, same-sex marriage or ordination of practicing homosexuals.
Rationale:
After an extensive debate, both the 2005 and 2007 ELCIC Convention decisively“rejected” the National Church Council proposal to permit ELCIC Pastors and congregations to bless same-sex couples.
The cost to the ELCIC in both human and financial resources is significant and continues to grow. The same-sex blessing/marriage issue is the most disruptive and divisive issue in the history of the ELCIC. The expenditure of ELCIC financial and human resources on the issue of same sex blessings is counterproductive and hinders the ELCIC from addressing critical ministry challenges and opportunities.
This motion simply restricts the official ELCIC bodies listed above from spending ELCIC financial and human resources on the same-sex blessing debate.
