Monday 8-17-09
It is day 1 of the ELCA Churwide Assembly, where the denomination will decide whether to fully accept the homosexual lifestyle and allow practicing gay clergy and perform gay marriages.
At a press conference today, Bishop Mark Hanson was asked what he thinks about the criticism that by making this choice, the ELCA is just another irrelevant, dying Mainline Denomination. Hanson said he took issue with people who make that assessment, and remarked,
"Just under my tenure alone as presiding bishop, we have lost more than 500 thousand members. I have a newsflash for you all: The ELCA already is a declining Mainline Denomination."
The implication, of course, is that a decision to ordain practicing gay clergy and perform gay marriages has had, and will have, no impact on the rapidly declining membership under Hanson’s leadership.
When asked by another reporter what his personal position is on the subject, Hanson said that to clearly state his position at this time would violate his call as presiding bishop to facilitate non-anxious, inclusive engagement at the Churchwide Assembly.
Throughout the press conference, though, Hanson spent a great deal of time presenting the position for an affirmative vote on the proposals before them. He provided his theological framework for acceptance of the provisions, but only spoke of opposition to the measures in passing or as a reference point to buttress his arguments that cast the proposals in a bright light. He argued strongly that the impending actions, if they affirm full inclusion of Gay and Lesbian people onto the ELCA rosters, signify "This Church" taking back the discussion of sexuality from a polarized culture.
The point is completely lost on Hanson that he and the ELCA have been pretty big players in polarization- some say, leading the charge.
When asked about Church Unity, Hanson relayed his carefully crafted theological supposition that Lutherans know and believe Church unity is only in Jesus Christ- who is at the heart of "This Church"- not in sexuality. He admitted that there are questions about Biblical Authority, but did not allow for the idea that a "different Gospel" breeds a different "Christ."
The problem is that Jesus Christ himself points to the authority of the scriptures as the source and norm of Christian thinking and life. While Hanson may argue that the Church will not split over the question of sexuality, the ELCA is already irreparably split over the authority of scripture- a non-negotiable principle for most Christians. The Bible either has authority, or it doesn’t. The rush to un-sin homosexuality can only be done if you believe that the Bible doesn’t hold that kind of authority. In terms of the Lutheran understanding of the Gospel, Hanson’s position in favor of these proposals betrays his claim that the Gospel- Christ- covers all and is at the center of all. If this really were central to ELCA theology, there would be no need to make homosexuality normative in the Lutheran Church.
When asked about the Assembly’s consideration of whether the voting procedure for the proposal to allow practicing gay clergy on the ELCA rosters will be ammended to a 2/3 vote, Hanson answered that he wasn’t sure, but that,
"If you are savvy, you may be able to predict the vote on the second proposal based on whether or not the Assembly votes for a 2/3 majority on it."
Hanson is right. The argument for a 2/3 majority already pre-supposes that the passage of the measures will have a simple majority. Those who are pre-disposed to vote in favor of the gay agenda will vote no on a 2/3 majority. That vote on how they will vote later only requires a simple majority. A significant simple majority on the rules of voting probably would indicate that opponents of the measures do not have a simple majority to overcome the measures anyways.
