The synod assembly report
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So that you understand the references: The templates 3A and 3B are Goodsoil templates. 3A contains 2 resolves as noted; 3B contains 2 resolves; the full up version includes A and B, hence the numbering to 4. This report will be cumulative each time it is sent out. This report will be issued on Tuesdays.

3A-1. To adopt the proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality and its implementing resolutions, as recommended by the ELCA Church Council.

3A-2. To adopt the four parts of the proposed Recommendation on Ministry Policies, as recommended by the ELCA Church Council.

3B-3. To adopt the following additional implementing resolution of the Social Statement on Human Sexuality: "To direct appropriate churchwide units to develop, in consultation with those most affected, resources for congregations or faith-communities and ministers that choose to do so to support same-gender relationships by holding them publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity."

3B-4. To adopt the following: "Resolved, that the Vocation and Education unit be directed to develop, and the Church Council be directed to approve, procedures for the reception from another Lutheran church-body and for the expedited reinstatement to the roster or to candidacy of those whose rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships."

Stats
Assemblies held 63
Passed 3A-1 (or equivalent) 39
Passed 3A-2 (or equivalent) 32
Passed 3B-3 (or equivalent) 17
Passed 3B-4 (or equivalent) 17
Defeated memorial requiring 2/3rds 23
Defeated an anti 3A-1 15
Defeated an anti 3A-2 12
Defeated an anti 3B-3 0
Defeated an anti 3B-4 0
Passed an anti 3A-1 5
Passed an anti 3A-2 12
Passed an anti 3B-3 0
Passed an anti 3B-4 0
Passed memorial requiring 2/3rds 21

[A line separates the weeks below. Most recent results shown first.]

Northern Illinois

Passed 3A-1 by cards.
Passed 3A-2 by cards, 271 Y / 168 N (62%)
Passed 2/3 memorial, 226 Y / 196 N (only 46% in our favor)

Southwestern Pennsylvania

Passed anti-3A-1, 219 Y / 123 N (only 36% in our favor)
Passed anti-3A-2 by cards (estimated 90%)
Passed 2/3 memorial by cards.
Defeated proposal to divert funds from ELCA and keep within synod.

Upper Susquehanna

Defeated 3A-1 85 Y / 136 N (only 39% in our favor)
Passed 2/3 memorial, 180 Y / 57 No (only 24% in our favor)
Straw poll was conducted on 4 elements of ministry recommendations. Results were mixed, with many votes of "undecided."

Grand Canyon Synod

Passed 3A1 (social statement) and 3B-3 (develop resources) by cards (estimated 68%)
Passed 3A-2 (ministry recommendations) and 3B-4 (reinstatement), 190 Y / 99 N (66%)
Defeated 2/3rds, 134 Y / 160 N (54% in our favor)

Southwest Minnesota

Defeated anti-3A-1 (reject the social statement) 275 Y / 338 N (55% in our favor)
Passed anti-3A-2 (reject rostering changes) 303 Y / 279 N (48% in our favor)
Defeated 2/3rds majority, 262 Y / 275 N (51% in our favor)
Re-elected Bishop Jon Anderson on first ballot; Anderson received 488 votes and Scott Grorud (WordAlone leader) received 135.

Southeastern Iowa

Passed 3A-1 by show of cards (estimated 75—80%)
Passed 3A-2, 235 Y / 139 N (62%)
Passed 3B-3, Yes 250 Y / 158 No (61%)
Passed 3B-4 by show of passed on show of cards (estimated 70%)

Central/Southern Illinois

Passed 2/3rds memorial.

Lower Susquehanna

Passed Goodsoil 3A-1, 285 Y / 280 N (50.4%)
Substituted anti-3A-2 with the Goodsoil memorial, 295 Y / 268 N (52%).
Even though Goodsoil 3A-2 was successfully substituted, it went on to be defeated, 277 Y / 296 N (48% in our favor).
Passed 2/3rds memorial, 338 Y / 202 N (37% in our favor)

Northwestern Pennsylvania

Defeated an anti-3A-1, 54 Y / 65 N (54%)
Passed an anti-3A-2, 60 Y / 52 N (46%)
Passed 2/3rds memorial

Montana

Passed Goodsoil 3A-1, 201 Y / 85 N (70%)
Passed Goodsoil 3A-2, 160 Y / 143 N (53%)

Southwest California

Passed Goodsoil 3A-1 and 3A-2 by cards (estimated 70%)
Defeated 2/3rds memorial.

Western North Dakota

Tabled indefinitely anti-3A-1 and anti-3A-2.

Nebraska: Plenary

Goodsoil 3A tabled indefinitely, "with many not realizing that meant the end of the discussion."
Defeated 2/3rds memorial, 341 Y / 204 N (37% in our favor; resolution required 2/3rds to pass)

Nebraska: Straw Poll

Question 1: "As to the question of same gender relationships, I believe that":

  1. the church should definitely not approve of same gender relationships: #3%
  2. while I personally disapprove of same gender relationships, I could accept the church recognizing such relationships: 14%
  3. I don't have a sense of God's will on this: 6%
  4. while I accept same gender relationships, I can see how the church would not approve of such relationships: 20%
  5. the church should definitely approve of same gender relationships: 25%

Question 2: "As to the question of rostering persons in a same gender relationship, I believe that":

  1. the church should definitely not roster persons involved in same gender relationships: 40%
  2. while I personally disapprove of same gender relationships, I could accept the church's rostering of persons involved in such relationships: 10%
  3. I don't have a sense of God's will on this: 6%
  4. while I accept same gender relationships, I can see how the church would not roster persons involved in such relationships: 20%
  5. the church should definitely roster persons involved in same gender relationships: 23%

NE Iowa

Defeated Goodsoil 3A-1 and 3A-2
Passed anti 3A-1 and 3A-2, 200 Y / 150 N (only 43% in our favor)
Passed 2/3rds memorial, 197 Y / 153 N (only 44% in our favor)

Central States

Passed Goodsoil 3A-1 (social statement) 259 Y/ 129 (67%)
Passed Goodsoil 3A-2 (ministry recommendations) 230 Y / 169 N (58%). Was split into 4 parts:

  1. Recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships: 240 Y / 145 N (62%)
  2. Commit to finding a way to serve as rostered leaders of this church, 216 Y / 178 N (55%)
  3. Bear one another's burdens, consciences, 274 Y / 118 N (70%)
  4. Develop structured flexibility to allow these changes, 230 Y / 169 N (58%)

South Central Wisconsin

Passed 3A-1 and 3A-2 by show of cards, estimated 360 Y / 40 N (estimated 90%)
Defeated 2/3rds memorial by cards (estimated 90%)

East/Central Wisconsin

Passed 2/3rds memorial. 211 Y / 85 N (only 29% in our favor).

Metro Chicago

Passed Goodsoil 3A-3B by cards (estimated 60%).

Indiana-Kentucky

Passed 3A-1
Passed 3A-2 (5-vote margin)
Passed 2/3rds memorial decisively.
Defeated anti-3A-2
Defeated memorial defining marriage as man/woman (and also condemning divorce and remarriage)

The assembly started with a very contentious Reference and Counsel meeting on pending resolutions at which much that was hateful was said by the dozen people who spoke against resolutions favoring LGBT people, while only three persons spoke in favor. From that tempestuous start, the assembly suffered through convoluted parliamentary actions from those opposed to the social statement to a very surprising vote in favor of it that was so apparent that there was no necessity to count the votes. The passage of the recommendation on ministry policies, on the other hand, was a squeaker, passing by only 5 votes.

Those opposed introduced a resolution against "local option," which failed. They then put up a motion defining marriage as between a man and a woman, but, as they also in the resolution soundly condemned divorce and remarriage, it is no surprise that it failed as well.

Substantial byplay occurred when a motion was introduced to remove Kelly Fryer from the agenda of the assembly as the keynote speaker because of her "adultery." The bishop refused to acknowledge the motion due to a technicality and condemned the move. The next morning, the bishop spoke at length about how the Lutheran church is not a place for such hatred, explained enough of the background to exonerate her and apologized profusely to Kelly, who went right on to deliver her second keynote speech.

Southern Ohio

2/3rds memorial ruled out of order at the Southern Ohio Synod.
Passed anti 3A-1 and 3A-2 by cards.

Northeast Pennsylvania

Passed Goodsoil 3A-1, no vote recorded.
Passed Goodsoil 3A-2, no vote recorded.
Passed 3B-3 (resources supporting same gender relationships), 294 Y / 112 N (72%)
Passed 3B-4 (reception/reinstatement), no vote recorded.
Defeated 2/3rds memorial, 138 Y / 241 N (64% in our favor).

Allegheny

Passed anti-3A1 and anti-3A2.
Passed 2/3rds memorial.
Re-elected Bishop Gregory Pile.

New Jersey

Passed Goodsoil 3B by cards, estimated 340 Y / 10 N (97%)
Defeated 2/3rds memorial, estimated 340 Y / 10 N (97%)

West Virginia—Western Maryland

Defeated memorial to create a process to dissolve the ELCA.
Re-elected bishop Ralph Dunkin (on the first ballot).
In a non-binding, straw poll, the Proposed Social Statement failed to gain 2/3rds majority.
In a non binding, straw poll, the implementing resolutions were defeated by roughly 2/3rds against.

Virginia Synod — Plenary

Passed Goodsoil 3A-1, 220 Y / 170 N (56%)
Passed anti-3A-2, 210 Y / 152 N (only 42% in our favor)
Passed 2/3rds memorial by cards.
Tabled RIC synod resolution.

Virginia Synod

Straw poll on the four parts of the recommendation on ministry policies

  1. Recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships: 237 Y / 149 N (61%). Bishop Mauney spoke in support of the social statement and this resolution #1.
  2. Commit to finding a way to serve as rostered leaders of this church, 178 Y / 212 N (46%)
  3. Bear one another's burdens, consciences, 200 Y / 191 N (51%)
  4. Develop structured flexibility to allow these changes, 169 Y / 220 N (43%)

North Carolina

Defeated anti-social statement and anti-ministry recommendations by substituting Goodsoil 3A-1 and 3A-2.
Passed Goodsoil 3A-1, 279 Y / 243 N, (53.4 %).
Defeated Goodsoil 3A-2, 239 Y / 252 N (only 48.7% in our favor). This vote was taken a day after the successful motion to substitute.
Defeated 2/3rds memoriall, 245 Y / 265 N (52% in our favor)
Re-elected Bishop Leonard Bolick.

Southeastern

Passed Goodsoil 3A-3B, 238 Y / 183 N (57%)
Defeated 2/3rds memorial on card vote

Sierra Pacific

Passed Goodsoil 3A and 3B, 267 Y / 92 N (74%)
Passed pensions for same-gender partners.
Defeated 2/3rds memorial.
Defeated attempt to amend Goodsoil 3B.

South Carolina

Passed resolution to ELCA Church Council affirming current "Vision and Expectations," 273 Y / 185 N (40% in our favor)
A non-binding vote (or sense of the assembly vote) was taken. "Should the South Carolina Synod Assembly recommend to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly adoption of the social statement on human sexuality?" The vote was Yes-125; No-272; Abstain-89.

South Dakota

Passed anti 3A-1 (social statement) 362 Y / 238 N (only 40% in our favor) Passed anti 3A-2 (ministry recommendations) 364 Y / 233 N (only 39% in our favor).
Defeated Memorial to amend Social Statement to define marriage as between one man and one woman, 259 Y / 270 N (51% in our favor).
Passed 2/3rds memorial (estimated 40% voting in our favor)

Minneapolis Area

Passed Goodsoil 3A and 3B 327 Y / 175 N (65%)

Passed memorial requesting educational materials be developed by congregations and organizations whose mission includes ministry by and on behalf of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities for comprehensive sexuality education that upholds the values of the social statement, 304 Y / 203 N (60%)

Passed memorial advocating for ending discrimination and developing hate crime legislation for LGBT, 347 Y / 160 N (68%)

St Paul Area

Passed Goodsoil 3A and 3B overwhelmingly (no vote count taken).
Bishop Rogness speaks in favor of adopting social statement and ministry recommendations.

Northwest Wisconsin

Passed 2/3rds majority memorial, 251 Y /139 N (only 36% voting in our favor)
No other relevant activity.

Greater Milwaukee

Passed Goodsoil 3A-1 by show of cards (estimated 75%).
Passed Goodsoil 3A-2 by show of cards (estimated 85%).
Defeated 2/3rds memorial soundly.
Susan Cyr, strong ally, elected synod Vice President.

La Crosse Area

Passed Goodsoil 3A-2 and 3A-2.
Defeated anti-3A-2 soundly.
Defeated resolution from synod council to simply have assembly pray for churchwide assembly and not respond to social statement or ministry policies in any other way.
Defeated 2/3rds memorial soundly.

New England

Passed 3A and 3B. No count taken. Show of cards estimated at 95%.
Defeated 2/3rds memorial. No count taken. Show of cards estimated at 95%.
Comment: "It's almost as if sexuality were a non-issue."

Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast

Passed Goodsoil 3A, 198 Y / 66 N (75%),
Passed Goodsoil 3B, 149 Y / 110 N (57%)
Declined to consider 2/3rds memorial.
Defeated memorial urging CWA voting members to introduce 2/3 standard when adopting assembly rules.

Upstate New York

Passed Goodsoil 3A and 3B voice vote (estimated 80%).

A sense motion was taken on each of the main elements of the proposed documents. This was done the day previous to the plenary vote. The "sense votes" were as follows:

  • Adopt Social Statement — 303 yes; 75 no (80%)
  • Should ELCA find ways to allow congregations to recognize same gender marriages? 261 yes; 59 no (82%)
  • Should ELCA ordain people who are married to the same gender? 203 yes; 62 no (77%)
  • Should the ELCA implement the above in ways that respect other opinions? 319 yes; 43 no (88%)
  • Should the ELCA eliminate prohibitions against same gender relationships from its policies? 238 yes; 52 no (82%)

Delaware-Maryland

Passed 2/3 memorial (don't know count).

South Carolina

Passed resolution to ELCA Church Council affirming current "Vision and Expectations," 273 Y / 185 N (40% in our favor)

North/West Lower Michigan

Defeated 2/3rds memorial, 124 Y / 137 N (53% in our favor)

Oregon

Defeated anti-3A-1, 10% Y / 90% N (estimated card vote, approximately 300 voting members)
Defeated anti-3A-2, 20% Y / 80% N (estimated card vote)
Passed 3A, 75% Y / 25% N (estimated card vote)
Defeated 2/3, 30% Y / 70% N (estimated card vote)

Pacifica

Defeated anti 3A-1 (memorial rejecting social statement) 137 Y / 201 N (60% in our favor)
Defeated anti 3A-2 (rejecting ministry recommendations) 144 Y — 189 N (57% in our favor)
Passed 3A-1 (accepting social statement), 210 Y — 137 N (60%)
Passed 3A-2 (accepting ministry recommendations), 188 Y — 151 N (56%)
Passed 2/3rds memorial

Northwest Washington

Passed 3A 1-2 and 3B 3-4, by over 80% (no vote counts)
Defeated 2/3rds by 65%.

Southwest Washington

Defeated anti 3A-1, 69 Y / 191 N (74% in our favor)
Defeated anti 3A-2, 77 Y / 172 N (69% in our favor)
Passed 3A 1 and 2, 158 Y / 68 N (70%)
Defeated 2/3, Yes 89 Y / 132 N (60% in our favor)

Northwest Minnesota

Defeated anti 3A-1, 202 Y / 256 N (56% in our favor)
Passed anti 3A-2, 225 Y / 223 N (49.8% in our favor) NOTE: passed by only 2 votes
Passed 2/3, 248 Y / 130 N (34% in our favor)

Northern Great Lakes

Passed Goodsoil 3A-1 (Social Statement), 133 Y / 104 N (56%)

Synod held hearing on documents, led by Cori Johnson of the ELCA Sexuality Task Force. Essentially defeated Goodsoil 3A-2 (ministry recommendations) with 47-48% in our favor. On the ministry recommendations, the assembly voted on each of the 4 resolved:

  1. Support same-gender relationships: 127 Y / 110 N (54%)
  2. Find way to roster ministers in same-gender relationship 107 Y / 120 N (47% in our favor)
  3. Respect bound consciences: 137 Y / 99 N (58%)
  4. Structured flexibility: 105 Y / 112 N (48% in our favor)

Passed 2/3rds memorial, 131 for, 65 against (33% in our favor)

Southwestern Texas

Defeated anti 3A-1, 166 Yes, 182 No (52% in our favor)
Passed anti 3A-2, 193 Yes, 157 No (45% in our favor)
Passed 2/3rds (count unknown, but said to be very close)

Defeated "resolution requesting the formation of a commission to study and develop plans for the formation of a new Lutheran church from within the ELCA — to appoint a commission to study and bring a proposal for the development of a new Lutheran church from within the ELCA that would allow conscience-bound individuals and congregations of the ELCA to affiliate with a new Lutheran church body that aligns with their conscience-bound understanding of Scripture, with the commission to be composed of individuals who do not agree with rostering of same gender persons living in or hope to live in a lifelong, monogamous, same gender relationship." 144 Yes, 215 No (60% in our favor)

Northwestern Ohio

Defeated 3A-1&2 (no vote count taken)
Defeated anti 3A-1 207 Y / 212 N (51% in our favor)
Passed anti-3A-2 (against ministry recommendations), 225 Y / 173 N (44% in our favor)
Passed 2/3rds (no vote count taken)

Northeastern Ohio

Passed Memorial on Listening and Prayerful Communications "respecting the diversity of opinion in matters of sexual orientation and gender identity", 75% on card vote
Passed anti-discrimination for LGBT, 75% on card vote

Metro New York

Passed 3A and 3B by 2/3rds (don't know if vote count was taken).
Defeated anti-3A 1&2.

SE Pennsylvania

Passed 3B on voice vote (Since this was a late submission, this memorial required a 2/3rds vote for consideration. Therefore, it's quite likely that the voice vote on Goodsoil 3B was above 2/3).
Defeated 2/3rds memorial 202 Y / 242 N (55% in our favor)

Metro DC

Passed 3A&B 178 Y / 64 N (74%)
John White Elected Synod Vice-President (ally)
Motion to impose 2/3rds on our deliberations of sexuality ruled out of order
Hearings were held over meals on each of the content resolutions (not Greetings and Thanks ones) coming before the assembly. Additionally, a hearing on the Social Statement by a member of the Task Force for the full 8 years. Very helpful. Allowed for dialogue and clarification prior to parliamentary consideration in a plenary session. Created less stress in the parliamentary session; some of the arguments against our resolution were not repeated in the parliamentary phase; instead there were multiple and convoluted attempts (amendment of the amendment of the amendment stuff) to edit (water down) or eliminate 3B, all of which produced heat/no light and failed in the end. Opposition more directly visible during the hearings than the parliamentary consideration.

Florida-Bahamas

Passed welcoming statement (did not mention gender identity): passed by estimated 75%
Passed 3A 1 (social statement) 270 Y / 163 N (62%)
Passed 3A 2 (rostering recommendations in stair-step order) — vote count unknown
Defeated anti-Social Statement (offered as substitute): 180 Y / 250 N (58% in our favor)
Anti-Rostering Recommendations did not come to vote.
Passed 2/3rds memorial — vote count unknown, but seemed very close.
Elected Cheryl Stuart as Synod Vice-President (strong ally)
Assembly was characterized by lively debate on both sides. CORE present and visible.

Eastern Washington Idaho

Passed Goodsoil 3A 148 Yes / 89 No (62%)
Defeated 2/3rds 95 Yes / 152 No (62% in our favor)

Rocky Mountain

Passed Goodsoil 3A 244 Yes / 59 No (81%)
Defeated 2/3 by similar margin

Eastern North Dakota

3A-1Social Statement passed overwhelmingly;
3A-2 Rostering narrowly defeated 167 Yes / 187 No (47% in our favor)

SE Minnesota

Passed resolution to "request the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Council to become a Reconciling in Christ member by developing, adopting and submitting an Affirmation of Welcome that may also become a model to its member congregations." 171 Yes to 149 No (53%)

Passed "resolution of welcome and support for persons of same-gender sexual orientation" (no vote count taken).
Tabled Goodsoil 3A (no vote count).
Defeated 2/3rds memorial 218 Yes / 251 No (54% in our favor)
Defeated memorial to reject social statement 119 Yes / 270 No (69% in our favor)
Defeated memorial to reject rostering recommendations 151 Yes / 272 No (64% in our favor)

Western Iowa

There were 5 anti-gay resolutions proposed (reject the 3A-1 Social Statement; reject 3A-2 the clergy policies changes; define marriage as "one-man/one-woman"; require a super majority at national assembly on any gay issues; etc.), all of which contained a provision to memorialize the national assembly accordingly. But earlier a resolution had been passed to require a 2/3rds super majority on any resolution with a memorial attached. As a result, most of the anti-gay resolutions obtained a majority vote, but not the required 2/3.

SE Michigan

Goodsoil 3A passed 251 Yes / 73 No (77%) Rev. Stephen Marsh was elected to serve as bishop — an African-American originally from the Chicago area, who served as a parish pastor in New York for a number of years and has been a Assistant to the Bishop in Southeast Michigan for several years. He is a strong supporter of full inclusion of LGBT folk in the life of the church.

Alaska

No known legislative activity from either side. LC/NA workshops were conducted. Looking to see if there is interest in forming a Lutherans Concerned chapter.

Arkansas-Oklahoma

Passed Round 3 (version A) 81-42 (66%)
Defeated 2/3rds memorial.
In addition to our resolutions, there were two other resolutions, one supporting requiring the 2/3rds vote and the other the negative version of ours. The parliamentary procedure followed was that both those pro and con resolutions would be introduced and on the table at the same time, with the intent of substituting one for the other. In the end, the 2/3rds requirement memorial was defeated, as was the substitution of the resolution against the 3A-1 Social Statement and 3A-2 Ministry Policies Recommendation. Inquiry was received about forming a Lutherans Concerned chapter.

North TX/North LA

Passed a memorial calling for the CWA to adopt the 3A-1 social statement. (Rostering not discussed).
Passed 2/3rds memorial.

NE Minnesota

Passed Round 2 Memorial on Same-Gender relationships, 190-175. (52%)

Round 2 Memorial on Rostering was substantially amended deleting all resolves except for the final resolve which was rewritten to: "Resolved, to gratefully receive the 2009 'Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies' of the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality as a resource to guide this church as we serve Christ." This passed by an overwhelming margin.

The reason for deleting almost all of the resolves seemed to be that folks didn't want to "muddy the waters" in relation to the proposed statement and recommendations. Remember, this was the Round 2 version. This was done so as not to pass language that wasn't exactly the language proposed/recommended by the church council.