Memorials to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted by the
2005 Synod Assembly of the Metropolitan New York Synod
Meeting May 20-21
2005-B To Memorialize the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to accept the Recommendations of the ELCA Church Council on Sexuality Studies
Whereas, The 2005 Assembly of the Metropolitan New York Synod has received four proposed memorials to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly regarding the 2005 Churchwide Assembly’s action on the ELCA Studies on Sexuality;
Whereas, These proposed memorials include calls to
1) affirm and uphold current policy and practices consistent with past understandings of Vision and Expectations, Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline, and the social statements of the Lutheran Church in America and the American Lutheran Church;
2) affirm the Conference of Bishops’ 1993 statement on the blessing of homosexual relationships;
3) develop standardized policies detailing the chaste and faithful behaviors expected of all rostered leaders regardless of whether that person is heterosexual or homosexual.
4) acknowledge that, while there is currently no agreement between those who would approve candidates in committed same-sex relationships and those who would not approve such candidates, the current standards of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America are consistent with the ecumenical consensus of the Church;
Whereas, The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on April 11, 2005, has provided the three recommendations for consideration at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly;
Whereas, The concerns raised in the proposed memorials are faithfully addressed in the April 11, 2005 recommendations of the ELCA Church Council;
Whereas, The Church Council’s recommended process for exceptions strikes a necessary balance between these two positions and allows people who hold them to remain in unity while respecting their difference;
Whereas, The Church Council’s recommended process does not create new policies but retains both the current standards of Vision and Expectations as normative and the procedures already in place for granting exceptions; and
Whereas, We wish to support actions in compliance with the policies and procedures of the ELCA;
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod memorialize the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA to adopt the resolutions pertaining to the recommendations of the Church Council of the ELCA for the sake of the Gospel of Christ and the mission of the Church;
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod communicates to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly that the process recommended by the ELCA Church Council both preserves the current standards of the ELCA and presents the best hope at present for preserving the unity of the Church; and
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod communicates to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly that the process recommended by the ELCA Church Council will serve the best interests of the whole ELCA, in its three expressions as congregations, synods, and churchwide body, by acknowledging the ministry of candidates in committed same-sex relationships among congregations and synod who wish to call them.
2005 –D To Memorialize the 2005 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly Regarding
Refugees, Asylum seekers, and Immigrants
Whereas, Jesus calls those who follow Him to love their neighbors, the hungry, the homeless, and the vulnerable; and
Whereas, People of faith are called to action doing the things that God wants to get done; and
Whereas, There are eleven million refugees and twenty-three million displaced people fleeing wars, political and religious persecution, and violations of human rights; and
Whereas, The United States of America is a nation of immigrants with a long history of welcoming newcomers to our shores; and
Whereas, The United States continues to face challenges in restoring its capacity to resettle more than 50,000 refugees, which is far below this country’s historic annual admission level of well over 100,000; and
Whereas, Many newcomers, especially children and those who have been trafficked to this country for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation, need protection, help and the opportunity to live in dignity; and
Whereas, Refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants face a myriad of burdensome laws, procedures, and unjust practices, including the detention and deportation of children and asylum seekers and the separation of families; and
Whereas, Burdensome laws and procedures and unjust practices undermine our security; and
Whereas, The congregations and members of the ELCA have a long tradition in refugee resettlement ministry;
Resolved, That the 2005 Assembly of the Metropolitan New York Synod memorialize the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America to recommit the ELCA to being an advocate and justice seeker in regard to refugee and immigration issues; and
Resolved, That the Bishop of this synod appoint a task force to give leadership in involving congregations in refugee and immigration justice issues, including education, advocacy, and local service; and
Resolved, That this task force relate to the ELCA Division of Church and Society and work closely with and support LIRS and its local partners.
2005 - E To Memorialize the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Regarding Separation Wall: Urgent Action request from Companions in the Holy Land
Whereas, New possibilities for achieving a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine seem to have emerged in the wake of the January 2005 Palestinian elections;
Whereas, The fragile hope for peace will be strengthened by both parties ending violence against civilians and communities and avoiding actions that will make more difficult the peace-making task;
Whereas, The Israeli government is continuing to built its Separation Wall deep within the occupied Palestinian Territories around settlements east of Jerusalem and through Bethlehem and Beit Jala;
Whereas, The continued construction of the Separation Wall on this path requires the confiscation of Palestinian land, isolates Palestinians from nearby Jerusalem, and separates many Palestinian from their usual sources of educational, health, social, commercial, and religious services;
Whereas, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land has shared with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the extreme urgency of this situation and its belief that the extension of the Wall currently under way threatens the very continuation of the church and its ministries;
Whereas, The Separation Wall in these areas scheduled to be completed within 2005, undermines the possibility of a viable, contiguous, secure Palestine, which is necessary part of a lasting “two state solution” with a secure Israel; and
Whereas, The ELCA Church Council, amplifying the call of ELCJHL and Lutheran World Federation companions in the region, voted April 2004 to:
· Join with the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches in calling for an end to the wall’s construction; and
· Urge synods, in addition to highlighting these concerns at their synods assemblies, to find ways through prayer, through learning opportunities, through action, and through giving to support people in crisis in Palestine and respond to Bishop Younan’s request for advocacy (“NO MORE WALLS”), making use of resources available through the Division for Global Mission and Church in Society…”
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod acknowledge the urgent call of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and memorializes the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to:
· Use all available means to make its members, congregations, and synods aware of:
1. The immediate threat to the future of the ELCJHL and other churches in the region posed by the separation wall; and
2. The threat to future hopes for peace resulting from the building of the wall on Palestinian land;
· Be a bold and urgent calling on the U.S. government to use its substantial influence on the State of Israel to achieve immediate cessation of construction of the Separation Wall; and
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod memorialize the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to:
· Call for the immediate cessation of construction of the Israeli Separation Wall and removal of all existing sections of the wall on Palestinian land.
· Request the Division for Church in Society to intensify its advocacy relating to this critical situation, in accord with the Churchwide Strategy for ELCA engagement in Israel and Palestine [proposed], underscoring the U.S. tax dollars that are channeled to Israel for foreign and military assistance;
· Call upon ELCA synods to share the urgent call of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land with all voting members at their synods assemblies and take appropriate action, even as this matter will be brought to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly if the construction of the wall continues;
· Call upon all ELCA members, congregations, synods, and related agencies and institutions to respond to the request of the ELCA’s companion church in the Holy Land for bold advocacy that calls for construction of the Separation Wall to cease; and
· Call upon appropriate churchwide staff to prepare information for synod assemblies, which will assist them to address this urgent situation.
2005 – F To Memorialize the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to support and monitor ELCA Anti-Racism work
Whereas, In its Constitution the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and in its Principles of Organization (5.01.b) declared its commitment to be an inclusive church in the midst of division in society, and throughout its governing documents named specific ways in which it would live out its commitment to cultural diversity;
Whereas, The 1993 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, while meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, adopted the social statement, Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture which stated that “the Church confesses Christ, who has broken down the dividing wall (Ephesians 2:14). Christ, our peace, has put an end to the hostility of race, ethnicity, gender, and economic class. The Church proclaims Christ, confident this good news sets at liberty those captive behind walls of hostility (cf. Luke 4:18)” (page 1).
Whereas, The social statement declared that “racism – a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice – is sin, a violation of God’s intention for humanity. . . [and that] racism fractures and fragments both church and society (p. 4);
Whereas, The social statement calls on promises to be kept, stating: “We expect our leadership to name the sin of racism and lead us in our repentance of it. . . . We expect our leadership to persevere in their challenge to us to be in mission and ministry in a multicultural society” (p. 5);
Whereas, The Church has not lived in full compliance with its commitments, in not examining the structural and cultural realities of racism at all levels within the church, not requiring anti-racism education of its leaders, and not allocating adequate resources for staff and programs to address the sin of racism;
Whereas, This failure is manifested in the continued lack of growth among communities of color, with the membership of the ELCA remaining 97% White in a society that is 69.1% White, non-Hispanic;
Whereas, The ELCA needs to allocate staff and program budget to implement the usage of the many anti-racism resources it has produced, including the recently published Breaking the Bonds and Troubling the Waters for Healing of the Church: A Journey for White Christians from Privilege to Partnership, and to train facilitators to lead anti-racism efforts at all levels of the Church; and
Whereas, The re-structuring of the ELCA takes seriously the challenge for its leadership to name the sin of racism and lead efforts to challenge its effects by placing the work of anti-racism within the Office of the Bishop, but fails to provide full-time staff or funding for that work;
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod memorialize the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at its churchwide assembly in Orlando, Florida, August 8-14, 2005, to declare its intention to live out its commitment to persevere against racism and white privilege and strive to be transformed, by making it a priority of the Multicultural Ministries Unit;
Resolved, That the anti-racism efforts of the ELCA be monitored by the Unit for Multicultural Ministries and that a full report on the efforts against racism and toward transformation and growth be reported to each churchwide assembly and
Resolved, that the Metropolitan New York Synod memorialize the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to mandate that, as a symbol of this intention, the Conference of Bishops, as a group, complete an anti-racism workshop prior to the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Resolved, That in support of the anti-racism efforts the Office of the Bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod organize and implement a future ministerium on the issue of anti-racism.
2005– G To Memorialize the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to make ending hunger a core conviction
Whereas, 800 million people worldwide are chronically undernourished and 1.2 billion people live on less than $1 per day;
Whereas, 30 million people in the United States, including 13 million children, cannot afford an adequate and balanced diet;
Whereas, 189 countries, including the United States, have committed to cutting in half extreme hunger by the year 2015 by establishing the Millennium Development Goals;
Whereas, Advocacy organizations, like Bread for the World and the Institute for Food and Development Policy (FoodFirst), have established that there is a sufficient food supply to feed the earth’s population;
Whereas, Leading economists now argue that ending chronic hunger is an attainable goal for the first time in human history;
Whereas, The Holy Scriptures are very clear in numerous passages that God desires justice for the poor (for example, Jeremiah 22:15-16 and Luke 6:20-21) and that it is God’s will that the hungry be fed (for example, Psalm 146:5-7 and Matthew 25:34-35); and
Whereas, The church of Jesus Christ is uniquely equipped by its identity and mission to be the leaven that stirs the peoples and nations of the world to end chronic hunger;
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod make ending hunger a core conviction of its ministry and mission;
Resolved, That this synod memorialize the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in all of its expressions—congregations, synods and churchwide— to make ending hunger a core conviction for this church at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly;
Resolved, That this synod encourage its congregations to make ending hunger a “core conviction”of their ministry and mission by:
· Engaging in local efforts to feed the hungry and promote community economic development
· Initiating with other congregations, especially with full communion partner congregations, advocacy of laws and policies to end hunger in the local community
· Supporting advocacy of laws and policies to end hunger on the state, national, and global levels (for example, through the initiatives of Bread for the World and the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs)
· Contributing generously to the World Hunger Appeal of the ELCA;
Resolved, That ending hunger as a “core conviction” means that this synod, as a regular dimension of its ministry and mission:
· Acts for systemic change of a culture the promotes hunger
· Equips congregations in their efforts to feed the hungry and promote community economic development on the local level
· Initiates with the leaders of other judicatories, especially with full communion partners, advocacy of laws and policies to end hunger on the state, national, and global levels (for example, through the initiatives of Bread for the World and the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs)
· Encourages congregations to contribute generously to the World Hunger Appeal of the ELCA;
Resolved, That ending hunger as a “core conviction” means that the ELCA churchwide organization, as a regular dimension of its ministry and mission:
· Acts for systemic change of a culture the promotes hunger
· Equips congregations in their efforts to feed the hungry and promote community economic development in the local level
· Supports synods in their efforts to end hunger on the state, national, and global levels
· Initiates with the leaders of other church bodies, especially with full communion partners, advocacy of laws and policies to end hunger on the national and global levels (for example, through the initiatives of Bread for the World and the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs)
· Encourages seminaries to include advocacy of justice for the hungry as a focus of curriculum
· Instructs the leaders of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal to give leadership to these efforts
· Continues to undertake relief efforts and implement sustainable development in partnership with Lutheran World Relief, the Lutheran World Federation, and in cooperation with other people of faith in situations of extreme hunger; and
Resolved, That this synod memorialize the ELCA to engage in a process together with the Lutheran World Federation and bring a proposal to the Lutheran World Federation’s Eleventh Assembly to make ending hunger a core conviction of the Lutheran World Federation.
2005-H To Memorialize the ELCA 2005 Churchwide Assembly to Adopt the
African Descent Strategic Plan
Whereas, The Commitssion for Multicultural Ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has issued an African Descent Strategic Pan, “Many Voices – Tell the Story – Create the Vision: Build Our Future” that identifies and structures eight (8) mission opportunities and goals for Lutherans of African descent; and
Whereas, The ELCA Church Council has approved the strategic plan for presentation to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly; and
Whereas, The Metropolitan New York Synod chapter fo the African American Lutheran Association, which hosted the first of the twelve (12) Strategic Plan Steering Team’s focus group nationwide meetings in developing the plan, wholeheartedly endorses the Strategic plan that sets direction for the vision of its mission;
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod Assembly memorialize the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to adopt the African Descent Strategic Plan.
2005–K TO MEMORIAL THE 2005 ELCA CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY REGARDING PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
Whereas, New possibilities for achieving a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine seem to have emerged in the wake of the January 2005 Palestinian elections; and
Whereas, The fragile hope for peace will be strengthened by both parties ending violence against civilians and communities and avoiding actions that will make more difficult the peace-making task; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod memorialize the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to
· Commend the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) for its strong condemnation of all forms of violence and
· Urge the ELCJHL to continue its strong witness for peace, and
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod memorialize the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to call upon the ELCJHL and all people of goodwill in Israel and Palestine to denounce all organizations that use violence as a means of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli impasse.
Adopted the Auditor’s Report
Adopted a budget of $3,229,869 for FY2006
Adopted the following resolutions:
2005-A To adopt Recommendation
1 of the ELCA Church Council
Recommendations on ELCA Sexuality Studies
Whereas, The Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, acknowledges that
1) the people of this church are joined and united by the love of Jesus Christ;
2) this unity is God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ and we are called as a church to cherish, nurture, and safeguard this gift;
3) within this unity is also a God-given diversity that we honor in the body of Christ;
Whereas, The Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, gives thanks to God for the precious gift of unity and the richness of diversity within the body of Christ, for each other, and for the desire and strength to live faithfully within our God-given unity and diversity;
Whereas, The Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, respects the integrity of convictions of conscience and faith “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3); and
Whereas, The Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, sees throughout this church that a commitment to the authority of Scripture is not solely the concern of those who seek to maintain the tradition and, similarly, compassion for gay and lesbian persons and a commitment that they be treated justly are not solely concerns of those advocating change;
Resolved, That the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America commits itself 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, and
Resolved, That the Synod Council form, out of its own members, a standing committee to assist us in keeping this commitment.
2005 - C. To Support, Encourage, and provide equitable candidacy and disciplines processes for Gay and Lesbian Members of the Metropolitan New York Synod
Whereas, The 2005 Assembly of the Metropolitan New York Synod has received four proposed resolutions with regard to Gay and Lesbian members of this synod, all related to the ELCA Studies on Sexuality;
Whereas, These proposed resolutions include
1) affirmation of and thanksgiving for the gifts from the Holy Spirit we have received in gay and lesbian members of this synod;
2) a pledge of continuing support, encouragement and love to those faithful gay and lesbian persons whose service, witness and ministries it so receives;
3) calls to establish inclusive candidacy polices and consistent discipline guidelines for rostered leaders in the Metropolitan New York Synod;
Whereas, The two proposals calling for the establishment of candidacy and discipline policies are unconstitutional because such policies cannot be established by an individual synod but must be determined by the processes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America;
Whereas, The candidacy and discipline process concerns raised in these proposals are faithfully addressed in the April 11, 2005 recommendations of the ELCA Church Council;
Whereas, The Church Council’s recommended process for exceptions strikes a necessary balance between these two positions and allows people who hold them to remain in unity while respecting their difference;
Whereas, The Church Council’s recommended process does not create new policies but retains both the current standards of Vision and Expectations as normative and the procedures already in place for granting exceptions; and
Whereas, The Metropolitan New York Synod intends to comply with the policies and procedures of the ELCA and simultaneously provide support, encouragement, acceptance, love and hope for the gay and lesbian members of this synod;
Resolved, That the 2005 Assembly of the Metropolitan New York Synod will continue to affirm that, as with all gifts of the Spirit, we have 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; and
Resolved, That, within six months of the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the Bishop or Synod Council convene:
1) A special meeting of the Synod Assembly, in accordance with article S7.12. of the Metropolitan New York Synod Constitution, to address the issues raised in the event the April 11, 2005 recommendations of the ELCA Church Council are not adopted substantially as recommended by the 2005 Churchwide Assembly;
OR
2) A special consultative meeting of the Synod to discuss the implications of the Churchwide Assembly’s action on these matters.
2005-J To recognize the 2005 ELCA Principle of the Year
Whereas, “ELCA schools and staff strive to be ethnically divers, and many children who attend are not Lutheran, but their parents want their children to be educated in a nurturing Christian environment,”1 and
Whereas, “By their leadership skills ELCA principals bring hope and meaning to families who find themselves in a world that is often self serving” and “their schools and faculties provide a welcoming atmosphere for those who are unchurched and looking for direction in their lives,” and
Whereas, each year the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the U. S. Department of Education in corporate partnership with the Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company conduct a search for outstanding principals across the United States2, and
Whereas, God provides Lutheran schools with faithful leaders who are expected to serve in their ministries to touch the lives of teacher, congregations, families and every child in their school without fanfare or praise, and
Whereas, the division for Higher Education and Schools of the ELCA celebrates the selection of Christine Hauge as the 2005 ELCA Principal of the Year forwarding her nomination to the National Distinguished Principal’s Program in Washington DC for consideration of that honor, and
Whereas, her persistence, professionalism and ministry filled with prayer have been acknowledged and affirmed throughout the nomination and selection process; therefore be it
Resolved, The Metropolitan New York Synod in assembly applauds and acclaims Christine Hauge, AIM, principle of Leif Ericson Day School, 1067 72nd Street, Brooklyn, and the 2005 ELCA Principal of the Year.
1 All quotations from Donna R. Braband, ELCA interim Director for Schools, DHES
2 Criteria for National Distinguished Principals Program
· Balances management and leadership roles
· Sets high expectations and standards
· Demands content and instruction that ensures student achievement
· Creates a culture of adult learning
· Uses multiple sources of data as diagnostic tools
· Actively engages the community