August 12, 2005

Goodsoil accuses the ELCA of not living up to its welcome of GLBT people

Goodsoil finds the contradiction between what the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) says, has said, and what it does nothing short of breathtaking.

The ELCA said in 1991 that it welcomes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people into the life of the Church, to participate fully in the life of its congregations. Yet, in Assembly, the ELCA has further institutionalized the oppression of its GLBT members, and told them that they are welcome to sit and be silent – to be satisfied with a second-class, back-of-the-bus participation in the life of the church.

The ELCA voting in Assembly has refused to be clear by affirming the blessing same-gender relationships, and refused to change the policies of the Church that say GLBT people in any sort of committed relationship are unfit to serve as clergy or rostered lay professionals.

"The Church is faced with a dilemma: to recognize and appreciate the gift of GLBT people to the Church and recognize that less than equal participation in the Church is a violation of baptism, or to state strongly that it adheres to ancient interpretations of Scripture, that there can be no new understanding of the meaning of Scripture, and that it has erred on the subjects of women's ordination and its stance on slavery and would like to re-state its position," said Rev Jeff Johnson, Co-Chair of Goodsoil. "In short, as it stands now, the Church seems willing to sacrifice GLBT people on the altar of a false and ephemeral sense of unity. Tomorrow, the struggle for justice will continue, renewed."

About
Goodsoil is an alliance of six organizations seeking justice and equality by full participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the life of the Lutheran Church. Further information about the goodsoil effort can be found at www.goodsoil.org.

For further information:
Phil Soucy
communications@lcna.org
703-980-2038

Laura Montgomery Rutt
lmrutt@gmail.com
717-278-0592