Resolution #3, Southeastern Iowa Synod 2007 Assembly

and what does the Lord require you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

In response to the unprecedented February 7, 2007 decision in the Pastor Bradley Schmeling disciplinary hearing, outright policy change is respectfully suggested to the assemblies of the synods of this church, and to the Churchwide Assembly itself.

Find the hearing decision here:
http://www.lcna.org/lcna_downloads/schmeling_decision.pdf

See the website of Pastor Schmelings Atlanta, GA congregation, St. Johns Lutheran, including updates and commentary from Pastor Schmeling and over 1200 names of people nationwide and internationally, who participated in the prayer vigil offered during the weeklong trail in January 2007 here:
http://www.stjohnsatlanta.org/trialupdate.html

The Rainbow Ministry Team of St. Johns Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa, invites you to join us in signing this petition in support of the following resolution, submitted March 22, 2007 to the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The petition will be presented with the resolution during the synod assembly, June 8-9 at Augustana College in Rock Island, Il.

The resolution is as follows:

Resolution #3, Southeastern Iowa Synod 2007 Assembly
WHEREAS, the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly urged every part of the ELCA to concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements, recognizing the God-given mission and communion that we share as members of the body of Christ;
WHEREAS, the discipline hearing committee constituted to consider charges against Pr. Bradley E. Schmeling suggested that synod assemblies memorialize the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to request that the Committee on Appeals reconsider and revise the document Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline and that the appropriate churchwide unit reconsider and revise the document Vision and Expectations and the policy on reinstatement to the rosters of this church1;
WHEREAS, if permitted to decide the case only under the standards in chapters 7 and 20 of the ELCA Constitution, the discipline hearing committee would find almost unanimously that Pastor Schmeling is not engaged in conduct that is incompatible with the ministerial office, and would find with near unanimity that no discipline of any sort should be imposed against him2;
WHEREAS, the document known as Definitions and Guidelines3 may be amended by the Committee on Appeals, subject to approval by the Church Council, while the document known as Vision and Expectations4, as well as the policies on reinstatement to the rosters of this church5, may be amended by the Vocation and Education Unit, with review by the Conference of Bishops and adoption by the Church Council; and
WHEREAS, the Churchwide Assembly, as the highest legislative authority of the ELCA, can request or direct that the steps be taken for the development by the Committee on Appeals and adoption by the Church Council of an amendment to Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline; and for the development by the appropriate churchwide unit, review by the Conference of Bishops, and adoption by the Church Council of an amendment to Vision and Expectations6; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Southeastern Iowa Synod in Assembly memorialize the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
1) to direct the Committee on Appeals to develop an amendment to the document known as Definitions and Guidelines that removes provisions precluding practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of this church;
2) to direct the Vocation and Education Unit, in consultation with the Conference of Bishops, to develop an amendment to the documents known as Vision and Expectations that removes provisions requiring persons who are homosexual in their self-understanding to abstain from homosexual sexual relationships;
3) to direct the Vocation and Education Unit, in consultation with the Conference of Bishops, to develop an amendment to the policies on reinstatement to the rosters of this church that permits the reinstatement, without the usual requirement of five consecutive years without call, of persons who have resigned or been removed from the rosters solely because they are in a mutual, chaste, and faithful committed same-gender relationship; and
4) to direct the Church Council to take the actions necessary to amend Definitions and Guidelines, Vision and Expectations, and the policies on reinstatement to the rosters of this church in conformity with the amendments developed (pursuant to the preceding directions) by the Committee on Appeals and Vocation and Education Unit.

Submitted by: LaDonna Russell; Larry Christensen, Associate in Ministry;
Linda Christensen; Bob Rod; Jo Rod; and The Rev. Rachel Thorson Mithelman.

1 Decision of the Discipline Hearing Committee, p. 13.
2 Ibid., p. 12.
3 See provisions 20.71.11. and 20.71.12. of the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA.
4 See provisions 7.31.11., 7.31.13., 7.51.03.b., and 16.12.C05.d.2.
5 See provisions 7.31.15., 7.52.13., and 16.12.C05.d.2.
6 ELCA Church Council, Minutes of April 9-11, 2006, p. 90, explanation by Secretary Almen.