Communication And Participation – An Update On The ELCA Studies On Sexuality
by James M. Childs, Jr., Director (February, 2003)

Two of the key concerns that I always stress when talking about the studies on sexuality are “communication” and “participation.” At the February 7-9 meeting of the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality both of these focal points were at the center of the stage.

The task force was in dialogue at that meeting with two visiting groups. The first was a panel of five pastors who brought their perspectives on why the church should maintain its present stance of neither approving the blessing of same sex unions nor allowing those in committed same sex unions to be admitted to the church’s rostered ministries. The second panel of visitors consisted of representatives from five organizations representing the interests and concerns of gay and lesbian Lutherans in the Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation: Lutherans Concerned, Wingspan Ministry, Extraordinary Candidacy Project, The Network, and Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries.

The diversity of views, which task force members engaged, underscored the need for good communication and the way in which dialogue aids communication. Dialogue involves respectful listening and a desire to understand the views of one’s dialogue partners. In that spirit challenging and probing the dialogue partner’s ideas serve the cause of better communication. Because the task force members worked at good communication through respectful dialogue, they learned a great deal from both encounters.

The insights gained from the dialogue with the two panels enriched the discussion of the design and content of the study materials on homosexuality in the church, which will be Journey Together Faithfully: Part Two. Good communication will be of paramount importance in the crafting of these materials. Beyond that, the discussion of how we develop these study materials focused on the need to foster participation. In addition to concern for sound biblical and theological discussion that engages today’s concerns, the materials need to be “user friendly” and inviting in format, flexibility, readability, and fairness. Individuals, congregations, pastors, and other leaders are the key to the good participation we need for a study that is truly by the church and of the church. For its part, the task force wants to help that happen by trying to produce the best possible study materials for the needs of the church.

In the meantime, we encourage those who haven’t done Journey Together Faithfully: Part One, the study of the “ELCA Message on Sexuality: Some Common Convictions,” to do so now. Those who have sent responses are providing valuable help as we look to the long-range goal of a more comprehensive social statement on sexuality.

You can visit the ELCA Studies on Sexuality web site at Journey Together Faithfully.