Area Lutheran churches to take important vote
Congregations discuss ELCA affiliationBy Deb Gau
Fact Box
It's so mixed and varied. For some people it's a concern, others say it's something that's been a long time coming and there are a whole lot of people in between.
- Linda Pederson, synod minister
A pair of area churches could be facing some big decisions in the near future, as they discuss whether to remain a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood recently published a notice in the church bulletin calling a special congregational meeting later this month, with a ballot vote on whether "to continue the process of discontinuing affiliation with the ELCA."
Trygve Trooien, president of Singsaas Lutheran Church in rural Hendricks, said their congregation met Sunday to discuss the issue of church affiliation.
"Nothing was decided. We are going to have a vote in the near future," Trooien said, although he declined to comment on the process further "until we have something official to say."
The notice of the affiliation vote meeting at Christ Lutheran said it was being called by church president Joel Dahl.
Dahl said this week that the reason for the meeting is to give church members a chance to voice their opinions on church affiliation. Members of the congregation may have concerns brought up by the ELCA's national assembly in August, Dahl said, but he didn't know whether they include recent decisions regarding sexuality and the ministry.
"I don't know what everyone feels," Dahl said. As church president, he said, he would lead the meeting, "and basically, will leave it to (the congregation). I think everyone needs to be able to be heard."
Dahl emphasized that the topic of discussion at the meeting will be church affiliation, not sexuality.
A statement from the Rev. Jim Demke, pastor of Christ Lutheran, said the church is welcoming of everyone seeking faith and fellowship there, but also respects individuals' consciences. The meeting would be a chance for "open and accurate discussion" on the best affiliation for the church, Demke said.
"Our congregation is inclusive of persons from different backgrounds and convictions. We also have a deep sense of family. Our goal is to find a way for those with issues of conscience and those with valued denominational interests to be engaged together in vibrant ministry," Demke said in the statement.
In August, members of the ELCA's national assembly voted to adopt a statement on sexuality that would allow "gay people in a committed, monogamous relationship to be able to be rostered as ELCA clergy," said the Rev. Linda Pedersen, synod minister at the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. Responses in the synod have been varied, Pedersen said this week, but so far she knew of only four out of 265 congregations talking about changing church affiliations. Besides Christ Lutheran and Singsaas, she said, there was one congregation in the Howard Lake area and one in the Cokato area.
At this time, Pedersen said, there aren't any openly gay ministers asking to be rostered in the Southwestern synod.
Leaving the ELCA is a multi-step process, requiring a two-thirds majority vote by the congregation, followed by a second two-thirds majority vote at least 90 days later. Pedersen said a vote to end affiliation needs to be formally called and announced to the congregation, although the synod doesn't need to be informed unless the first vote passes.
"There are a number of ways it can be called," Pedersen said. "It can be called by the church council or church president, or there can be a petition by a percentage of the membership."
Dahl said all the arrangements for the meeting at Christ Lutheran were made "either according to the ELCA or the church constitution."
Demke said the vote at Christ Lutheran will only serve to continue the process of changing affiliations. A church member could vote "yes" just to open the door for more discussion.
"We don't know what the outcome of the process will be," Demke said.
The Rev. Duane Baun, pastor of Singsaas Lutheran, said the church council voted 6-2 in favor of having Sunday's meeting to discuss whether the congregation wanted to vote on church affiliation, as well as the statement on sexuality.
If a final vote to end ELCA affiliation passes at either church, there will be more choices ahead, like whether to join a different Lutheran denomination. Baun said that decision could have a big effect on Singsaas, which is currently partnered with Christ Lutheran Church in Hendricks. Singsaas might need to find a new partner or a new minister, Baun said.
Pedersen said there appears to be a mix of reactions to the national assembly's vote in August.
"It's so mixed and varied," Pedersen said. "For some people it's a concern, others would say it's something that's been a long time coming, and there are a whole lot of people in between."
The ELCA national assembly passed the statement on sexuality by a 60-40 vote, Pedersen said. "We figure that's kind of what we're hearing from people," she said, although whether the 60 percent support gay clergy or not differs among communities.
Pedersen said congregations will need to discuss issues that are important to them, including whether or not to allow gay clergy. But at the same time, she said, it's important that churches also continue to work on their wider mission.
"I think the most important thing is to be involved in the mission of Christ," Pedersen said.
