January 28, 2007
Point of View
WE ARE DIVIDED - HOW CAN WE STOP HURTING EACH OTHER?
With deep regret and sorrow, we must recognize that members of the ELCIC are involved in an irreconcilable conflict which will lead to a split in our church. Our National Church Council has discussed the fact our different factions will go their separate ways and that there will be a loss of membership in the range of 20-30%. Our National Church Council now proposes that we divide our church along synodical lines on the issue of same-sex blessings while attempting to be together In Mission for Others. That is not going to solve the problem of our division. Sadness as well as deep resentments are understandable human emotions. At future conventions and meetings emotions will run high because of deeply held diverse convictions. Our loyalty to Jesus Christ and our witness to the world compels us to deal with our differences in a Christian and orderly manner.
We respectfully recognize our diverse positions as sincere convictions based on our respective different interpretations of Scriptures.
We respectfully recognize that, while we share a joint heritage, we now hold irreconcilable theological positions.
We respectfully recognize that, in fairness to both sides, our ELCIC will have to be dissolved and that we will have to reconstitute ourselves as two separate churches.
We confess that we have failed to "maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" Ephesians 4: 1-4.
We recommend establishing a Peaceful Separation Commission with representatives from both sides to:
A. recommend an orderly and fair division of all assets and liabilities of the ELCIC as well as exploring the continuing administration of a joint Pension Fund,
B. guide the process of separation as described below.We recommend a process of orderly separation which allows each faction of our divided church to pursue its own direction and ministries by:
1. Inviting each faction of our divided church to state its position in a brief document of no more than four pages.
2. By September 30, 2007 making such document available to all members in each congregation of our ELCIC for information and conversation.
3. Asking each congregation to decide by March 2008 to which part of the new emerging churches they want to belong.
4. Reconstituting ourselves as separate churches in national conventions in the summer of 2008.RATIONALE
1. The efforts to accommodate the local option of allowing same-sex blessings can not be accommodated within our current ELCIC constitution.
Previous efforts to further the cause of same-sex blessings have taken place in violation of our constitution as demonstrated by:
1. ELCIC leadership proceeding with recommending the local option in violation of Approved Model Constitution for Congregations, Article VII, Section 2, b, which requires pastors to "marry in accordance with the teachings of the church." That rules out any option except to marry according to the teaching of the whole church.
2. ELCIC leadership proceeding with advancing the local option in contradiction to our current official social statement on Sex, Marriage and the Family.
3. Two bishops, being present at the Eastern Canada Synod, choosing not to advise the convention of the unconstitutionality of the local option motion while this motion was being debated.2. Members and leaders of our ELCIC have deeply-held convictions. Can they harmonized?
Representatives of the faction in our church who seek to advance the same-sex blessing agenda see themselves as:
- Seeking to correct an old injustice in the treatment of homosexuals.
- Being moved by a spirit of compassion and love.
- Representing a more enlightened hermeneutical approach to Scriptures.
- Being in the tradition of continuous reformation as evidenced by the changes in our church in regards to slavery, the ordination of women and divorce.
- Doing what Jesus would do (who never mentioned homosexuality).
- Distancing themselves from traditional interpretation of Paul's position on homosexuality by advancing other interpretations.
- Stating that homosexuality is not a sin.
- Emphasizing that the local option seeks only a blessing and that we are in the tradition of blessing many things.
- Being inclusive of all people.
- Practicing hospitality and being a truly welcoming community.
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-They see the faction that upholds the traditional definition of marriage as:
- Homophobic or even hating homosexuals.
- Unwilling to be at the forefront of continuous reformation of the church.
- Clinging to an outdated interpretation of Scriptures.
- Being more concerned with the law than the gospel.
- Unwilling to accept scientific evidence concerning the cause of homosexuality.
- Being exclusive and lacking true Christian hospitality.
- Prolonging an unfair treatment of homosexuals.
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-Representatives of the faction that opposes the local option for same-sex blessing see themselves as:
- Upholding the authority of Scriptures.
- Upholding the constitution of the ELCIC.
- Upholding the preaching of both, the law and the gospel.
- Upholding the preaching of justification as well as sanctification.
- Continuing the tradition of scriptural interpretation as expressed by Martin Luther and the Book of Concord.
- Not yielding to societal pressures by compromising their beliefs.
- Doing what Jesus did when he upheld the sanctity of marriage while admitting. that Jesus did not mention homosexuality (nor incest, pedophilia, or sex with animals).
- Welcoming homosexuals as much as any other sinners.
- Emphasizing Jesus welcomed all sinners and called them to repent and sin no more.
- Stating that there is no difference between a same-sex blessing and a same-sex marriage.
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They see the faction that strives to implement the local option for same-sex blessings as:
- Preaching a new and false gospel.
- Compromising their traditional faith to accommodate the world.
- Advancing an interpretation of Scriptures that is driven by a political agenda.
- Welcoming and being hospitable of all people except the "conservative" faction.
- Being overzealous because they are fighting a position which they themselves held. (Nobody is more zealous than a recent convert)
- Having abandoned the traditional Lutheran way of interpreting Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.
- Acting in contradiction of our ELCIC constitution.
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-3. We will be judged for the way we have dealt with those differences.
Theological differences within the Christian community have existed since the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). Luther and Zwingli went their separate ways. We were not able to achieve organizational unity in our negotiations with Lutheran Church Canada, yet we were able to cooperate in Canadian Lutheran World Relief and even receive greetings from each other at National Conventions.
We must face our difference with honesty and respect or we discredit what we preach. We are to love even our enemies. Our differences call us to do no less as we face each other over the inevitability of our separation.
4. The fairest way to separate is dissolve our ELCIC and give each faction an opportunity to have a fresh start.
Human nature and sinful self-righteousness would cause each of the two factions to attempt to "win the battle" and have the other faction leave the ELCIC so that their faction will inherit the ELCIC.
The "conservatives" will claim that:
1. they are the ones that have kept the constitution and intend to keep it and live by it 2. the merging churches of the LCA and ELCC in Canada would have never agreed to merge if they would have foreseen the new direction of the ELCIC.
3. the change of theology and practices is promoted by the other faction. "Therefore we are the legal inheritors of the ELCIC and, should we be forced to leave, our new constitution would likely be the same constitution as the current ELCIC."The "reformists" will claim that:
1. they can gather a majority of votes to change the direction of the church.
2. due to the law of Canada change is inevitable and that the momentum is with them. 3. the demographics of the two factions would show that the future of the church is with them. "Therefore let the others leave if they do not go along with us. We have calculated that we can take a loss of 20- 30 % and still be a viable church."CONCLUSION
We all have failed and sinned. There are no winners. We all lose and have to pay the price. Each faction is entitled to go its own way. But we have been together in ministry for many years and, if we must separate, we must do so in the spirit of Christian love and fairness. An orderly separation is the way of love and fairness.- Rev. Dr. Lothar Schwabe
