WATERTOWN, S.D. — Lutherans from throughout South Dakota gathered Tuesday, Nov. 10, to discuss their options given the decisions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to affirm same-sex sexual relationships and to allow pastors to be in those relationships.
The votes by ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August to change church teaching and practice on marriage and sexuality have created a biblical and theological crisis throughout the ELCA and conflict in local congregations.
“The key question is does the Bible have authority over us or do we have authority over the Bible,” the Rev. Scott Grorud told those in attendance. Grorud, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, Minn., is a leader in both Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal) and the WordAlone Network.
Grorud said that the concern in places like South Dakota is not whether a congregation will be forced to call a pastor in a same-sex relationship but rather what future ELCA pastors will teach regarding marriage and sexuality. “The question is what are we going to preach and teach, especially to our children,” he said. “It is the content of the faith that is most at stake.”
Grorud explained various options for faithful individuals and congregations in response to the ELCA actions. “Doing nothing is not an option. This is too important biblically and theologically,” he said.
More than 300 people attended the event at the Watertown Events Center. The response and attendance were far beyond that expected by the pastors who organized the event. South Dakota Synod Bishop David Zellmer was among those attending the meeting.
It was announced at the gathering that a South Dakota group has been formed as a part of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal). The South Dakota Lutheran CORE group will work together to try to get the 2009 South Dakota Synod Assembly to uphold biblical teaching on marriage and sexual behavior within the South Dakota Synod.
“It is unclear whether the ELCA will allow synods to maintain traditional teaching and ministry standards. The proposals that are being released by the ELCA churchwide organization say that no synod will be allowed to uphold traditional standards for pastors as a synod,” explained the Rev. David Baer, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Whitewood.
“We hope to join some other ELCA synods in trying to get our synod assembly to vote to affirm marriage as between a man and a woman and to uphold that biblical teaching in standards for pastors serving in the South Dakota Synod,” said Baer, who edits a monthly newsletter for Lutheran CORE.
The South Dakota Synod Assembly has approved several resolutions in recent years upholding biblical teaching on sexuality. The 2009 South Dakota Synod Assembly voted to ask the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to reject the social statement and changes to ministry standards that were approved by the ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly in August.
“Many Lutherans in South Dakota are waiting to see if our synod will be able to uphold biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality. If we are able to uphold biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality as a synod, it may be possible for individuals and congregations to remain in the South Dakota Synod even if they are in opposition to the ELCA actions,” Baer said.
Some congregations have reduced or eliminated financial support for the ELCA churchwide organization. The South Dakota Synod Council took action following the Churchwide Assembly to permit congregations to support the South Dakota Synod but to designate that none of that support go to the ELCA churchwide organization.
Congregations have found that redirecting financial support away from the ELCA churchwide organization to other domestic and international ministries and mission and relief organizations to be a way to keep their congregations together in response to the ELCA actions.
Some Lutherans in South Dakota are considering leaving the ELCA.
“Some of us would like a way to continue to be a part of the South Dakota Synod but to end our affiliation with the ELCA,” Baer said. “I don’t know that there is any way for that to be possible. The ELCA has allowed congregations to affiliate with more than one church body. “Our congregation plans to affiliate with Lutheran CORE. We hope to be able to continue to work together with other Lutherans in South Dakota both through the South Dakota Synod and through Lutheran CORE - South Dakota.
Lutheran CORE is committed to support both those congregations and individuals who choose to remain affiliated with the ELCA and those who will choose different church body affiliations. Lutheran CORE will carry out functions similar to an ELCA synod and similar to a national church body. Congregations may choose to relate to Lutheran CORE as their primary church body or as one of its church body relationships.
Lutheran CORE leaders have said that they will be making a major announcement regarding their work toward the reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism following a Nov. 17-18 meeting in Minnesota.
Lutheran CORE has set a timeline for its work leading to a reconfiguration of Lutheranism in North America. A draft proposal will be released in February. The proposal will be brought to Lutheran CORE’s 2010 Convocation Aug. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio, for consideration.
The 2010 South Dakota Synod Assembly is June 11-13 in Rapid City.
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