Church Life

News from the North American Scene: November 14, 1994

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Church in Society has heeded the unanimous recommendation of an 11-member consulting panel and decided not to release a human sexuality statement at the denomination's August 1995 biennial meeting.

A 17-member Task Force on Human Sexuality, which formed in 1989, came under fire a year ago when it released a controversial first draft. Among the proposals was an "open affirmation of gay and lesbian persons and their mutually loving, just, committed relationship of fidelity." Soon after the draft became public, the ELCA appointed the 11-member panel to ensure the biblical soundness of the task force, and Karen Bloomquist, the staff member responsible for the statement, resigned.

The second draft-which has been reworked by a three-member writing team-is to be distributed to clergy this month. The Division for Church in Society had hoped to receive comments on the second draft by next January, but voted last month to extend the response period to June 30.

"We are not convinced that the time line allows for adequate time for the church to engage in that continued process of deliberation," says Melissa Maxwell-Doherty, who now chairs the 11-member panel. The task force last met in July and has no plans to meet again.

Copyright © 1994 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Natural Born Sinners

The Legal Road to Religious Education

Book Exposes Conflict at Megachurch

Explicit Film Prompts Lawsuit

ELCA Decides to Delay Statement

Pornography Restrictions Urged

DePaul Accused of Religious Bias

State Closes King's College

Christian Children's Fund Probed

America Becoming Fertile Mission Field for Buddhism

Is World Ripe for Revival?

Bulgarian Protestants Resist Restrictions

Missionary Radio Tunes to Changing Times

Missions Work in China Could Be Endangered

Virgin Birth Under Dispute

Christians in Haiti Seek Help from World Churches

Southern Discomfort

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Last Chance for Television's Christy

Showdown in Blackhawk County

Christians Battle Gambling

Why We Go

Missions’ New World Order

In the Name of Sophia

Earthquake in the Mainline

The Gift of Brokenness

Editorial

Married, with Children?

Editorial

Will Promise Keepers Keep Their Promises?

Don't Mimic Modern Universities

Hope and Expectation

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from November 14, 1994

Reaching the ’Happy Pagans’

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