Actions of the Special Meeting of the Metropolitan New York Synod Assembly

Whereas, the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted Recommendation One of the ELCA Church Council, committing this church to "seek unity in the midst of our disagreements" over matters of sexuality; and

Whereas, the Metropolitan New York Synod embraces the spirit of Recommendation One, cherishing as we do the gift of the communion we share in Jesus Christ; and

Whereas, in identifying the MNYS as a Reconciling in Christ synod we have committed our synod to the ministry of promoting unity, healing, truth and love on the matters at issue; therefore be it

Resolved, that this Assembly of the MNYS direct the Secretary of the Synod to thank the MNYS bishop, staff, Synod Council and committees for living out this unity in the care and support they continue to offer the gay and lesbian persons among us - lay, commissioned consecrated, ordained, single and partnered - receiving their gifts of time, talent, treasure and ministry on their own merits for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

SA2005.11.02 Yes 153 60% Adopted
No 102 40%

Endorsing Restraint in the Administration of ELCA Policies Applicable to Gay and Lesbian Rostered Persons

Whereas, The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America urged our church "to concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst our disagreements;" and

Whereas, The discussion of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly concerning the ministry of partnered gay and lesbian persons provided no resolution of the disagreements by the action of a substantial majority; and

Whereas, A significant minority demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the current policy and practice of the ELCA with regard to the service in rostered ministry of partnered gay and lesbian persons, though no proposals for exceptions to or alteration of current policy achieved a majority at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly; and

Whereas, It is clear that no resolution of this matter acceptable to all persons is possible at this time; and

Whereas, Service in the rostered ministry of the church is neither a right to be claimed nor a privilege bestowed, rather it is the duty and obligation of both candidates and the church to discern the calling of God for service in the rostered ministry in specific persons; and

Whereas, This vocation is confirmed by call of the church to a specific ministry; and

Whereas, There are many instances where the process of discernment has identified candidates and settings for rostered ministry where the only impediment to the call of the church is the preclusion to service by partnered gay and lesbian persons as defined in ELCA policy; and

Whereas, Many gay and lesbian persons, partnered and single already serve in the rostered ministry in congregations of this church; and

Whereas, There are many instances where congregations have expressed their willingness to receive the ministry of partnered gay and lesbian rostered leaders; and

Whereas, Rather than limiting ourselves to one resolution of our disagreements, we ought to "invest the talents" given us in those places where call is extended to and received by partnered gay and lesbian persons and discern the working of the Spirit through the lived experience of the God's people; and

Whereas, The Rabbi Gamaliel convinced the Sanhedrin not to act against Peter and the apostles saying, "?[I]f this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them--in that case you may even be found fighting against God!" [Acts 5:38-39, NRSV]; therefore be it

Resolved, That in furtherance of the goal of "finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements" the Metropolitan New York Synod Assembly endorses, and calls for, restraint in the administration of those policies that address the full service of partnered gay and lesbian persons in rostered ministry, in order that the ministry of such persons to and with our congregations may be seen and we may discern whether God "prospers the work of their hands" [Ps. 90:17] and they may be "[known] by their fruits" [Mt. 7:16, 20]; and be it further

Resolved, That the MNYS requests other synods to join us in endorsing the practice of restraint in the administration of policies applicable only to gay and lesbian rostered persons as a part of the continuing discernment process of the ELCA so that a number of ministries across the church may be looked to as exemplars through which our synods and the ELCA may evaluate the spiritual health and welfare of congregations and communities served by openly partnered gay or lesbian rostered ministers; and

Resolved, that in this time of disagreement and discernment all members of the ELCA earnestly pray: "Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." [Morning and Evening Prayer, LBW Prayer (251)]

SA2005.11.03 Yes 130 53% Adopted
No 114 47%

Giving Guidance in the Exercise of Discipline and the Candidacy Process in the Metropolitan New York Synod

Whereas, the Metropolitan New York Synod ("this Synod") has already "received and will continue to receive the gifts of single or partnered gay and lesbian persons joyfully with thanksgiving to God, and pledges to continue to support, encourage and love those faithful gay and lesbian persons among us, whether lay, commissioned, consecrated, or ordained, whose service, witness and ministry it so receives" (per the 2005 Synod Assembly); and

Whereas, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ("ELCA") has repeatedly affirmed that "that gay and lesbian people, as individuals created by God, are welcome to participate fully in the life of the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" (per the 1991, 1995, 1999, 2001, and 2005 Churchwide Assemblies); and

Whereas, the ELCA has urged this Synod "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" (per the 2005 Churchwide Assembly); and

Whereas, the ELCA Constitution (10.21.a; and 10.21.c) mandates that this Synod shall provide for both pastoral care and discipline of congregations and rostered leaders, including approval, call, ordination, consecration, commission, termination, censure, suspension, and removal; and

Whereas, in all of the relevant provisions (9.23; 20.21.21; 20.23.01; 20.21.09; and 20.31.04) the ELCA Constitution and Bylaws do not require a disciplinary committee (or this Synod's Council under 9.23) to impose a particular discipline, but only limit which disciplines a committee may impose if it chooses to impose any; yet the provisions do require disciplinary committees to make three decisions - (1) what "the truth of the matter" is; (2) whether this truth is grounds for discipline; and (3) whether to actually impose a particular discipline; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, To request of the ELCA Church Council a clarification on the whether this resolution is in concurrence with the governing documents of the ELCA, and

Resolved, By this Synod, in order to "live faithfully together in the midst of disagreements" and in order to exercise its dual responsibility to provide for both pastoral care and discipline of congregations and rostered leaders, that the following guidance shall apply only to a charge solely concerning the fact that a rostered leader is in a loving, committed, same-gender relationship; and be it further

Resolved, that in the following guidance this Synod does not create new standards for discipline, but does exercise its constitutional duty to provide for the implementation of those standards within this Synod; and be it further

Resolved, that the following guidance in no way applies to any relationship where there is clear evidence of abuse, infidelity, or exploitation of one person by another; and be it further

Resolved, that in every disciplinary action (including applications of ELCA Constitution 9.23) solely concerning the fact that a rostered leader is in a loving, committed, same-gender relationship, the following guidance shall apply:

1) At every point in the disciplinary process, the overriding consideration must be to best serve the mission and pastoral needs of both the particular ministry or congregation and this Synod;

2) In submitting a charge, the bishop, congregation members, and rostered leaders of this Synod must describe how it would best serve the mission and pastoral needs of both the particular ministry or congregation and this Synod to impose the discipline sought solely on account of the rostered leader's being in a loving, committed, same-gender relationship;

3) In deciding what "the truth of the matter" is, any discipline committee judging congregations or rostered leaders of this Synod must consider and determine as a fact whether imposing discipline would best serve the mission and pastoral needs of both the particular ministry or congregation and this Synod;

4) The discipline committee (or this Synod's Council, if under ELCA Constitution 9.23) should not impose discipline unless it determines that the imposition of discipline at all and the imposition of the specific discipline chosen both best serve the mission and pastoral needs of both the particular ministry or congregation and of this Synod; and be it further

Resolved, that in this guidance this Synod exercises its constitutional responsibility over the final decision as to whether any candidate for rostered ministry will be approved for rostering, and in the process this Synod is not establishing new standards, but announcing how candidates will be evaluated against such standards; and be it further

Resolved, that this guidance in no way applies to any candidate in whose committed relationship the Candidacy Committee finds clear evidence of abuse, infidelity, or exploitation; and be it finally

Resolved, that the guidance of this Synod with regard solely to the fact that an otherwise-qualified candidate for rostered ministry is in a loving, committed, same-gender relationship, is for the Candidacy Committee of this Synod to determine the matter primarily on the basis of whether the mission and pastoral needs of this Synod would be best served by accepting that candidate's gifts for ministry:

All these things we resolve in the name of Jesus, our Christ,
whose help and guidance herewith we seek.