ELCA Studies of Sexuality to be Released Tomorrow

By Pauline J. Chang, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, January 12, 2005

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a 5-million member denomination based in Chicago, will release its much-awaited study on sexuality on Thursday, Jan 13, 2005. The study, which has been three years in the making, addresses the contentious issue of blessing same-sex unions and the ordination of sexuality active gays and lesbians within the church.

The current ELCA policy says ministers, both homosexual and heterosexual, should refrain from sexual relations outside of marriage. Specifically, the ELCA calls marriage “a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman .

While the church has no official policy statement on the blessing of homosexual unions, the 1993 ELCA Conference of Bishops stated it does not approve of such ceremonies.

Once the report is officially released on January 13, the ELCA’s 10,657 congregations will be given the chance to study and respond to the report through March when the ELCA Conference of Bishops is scheduled to meet.

Information about the Studies on Sexuality is at http://www.elca.org/faithfuljourney/ on the ELCA Web site.