The ELCA Study of Human Sexuality: First Draft
In 1990 the new ELCA was already engaged in what started out to be an honest attempt to study human sexuality anew. A widely-representative study commission was put together. For the first time, it actually included a gay man and a lesbian woman, both lay persons at the time, who were members of Lutherans Concerned: John Ballew of Atlanta, Georgia (former LC/NA President), and Anita Hill of St. Paul, Minnesota (a lay staff professional with Wingspan Ministries).
The commission read, discussed, read more, invited in experts, discussed more, and respected one another’s differences. Since the subject was very broad, homosexuality was only a small part of its assignment, yet probably the most controversial part.
Due to the excellent and respectful work of John Ballew and Anita Hill, I was invited to address the entire study commission in an unusual session in Chicago on a warm July evening. Although we were seated amicably in a large circle, I was allowed to present a major prepared statement to the commission almost without interruption, my typed manuscript in my lap. As I spoke, I thought I could tell who the "bleeding hearts" were in the room, and who were listening and struggling with my points. But one Lutheran seminary faculty member, seated immediately to my left, continued to make small but audible gasps and sputters in reaction to my most controversial points.
One little thought-provoker, not original with me, elicited the loudest disagreement from this man. I would have thought it would gain his respect, but I later realized that he must have felt virtually anything I had to say must be resisted forcefully. He would not given an inch from his strident conservative position against any and all accommodation of homosexuals. This is the little gem that he found preposterous:
"The theologian’s tasks are: First, to answer the questions; Second, to question the answers; and Third, to question the questions."
Over the years, that little saying has stuck with me more than anything else I had prepared. Because it reminds me that, in all human rational enterprise, if the questions are not framed properly, the answers will be meaningless. Scientists and philosophers understand this. Teachers are keen to its implications. But sometimes theologians themselves forget that, if they are the ones who frame every God-question, they may be framing each question to fit their own prepared answers, and that truth will not emerge and the Holy Spirit will not speak through them.
"Garrison Keillor says, 'Lutherans believe they are saved by grace, but think it's best to bring a covered dish just in case!' The gay or lesbian Lutheran thinks its best to pay for and cook the entire banquet, to do the table decorations, to eat in the kitchen, to clean up afterwards, and to take the left-overs to elderly shut-ins. They have learned, wrongly, that they can never do enough. Ever. Eternally."
To question time-honored answers is humbling. To question the traditional questions themselves is even more daunting and dangerous. But, as I read the Scriptures, I see that Jesus of Nazareth constantly did those very things, and prompted his hearers to engage in the same. Must we assume that every valid God-talk question for all time was already asked in the New Testament? And that its only valid answer was already written there forever? I do not doubt nor deny the truth of the Scriptures, but I insist that a Christian theologian is not limited by the "Q and A" within the Bible itself. We are empowered and authorized to continue the same work—the same spiritual and theological enterprise—however modestly.
Anyway, after I drew my conclusions, there was lively debate and discussion. Although I felt gratified for having the opportunity to speak as a pastor with some expertise on the subject of being gay and Lutheran, I was also mentally and theologically "under fire" for several hours. Now I wish I had a recording or notes of the question and answer session. All that I can present here are my original prepared remarks, to download in PDF format here. Although it is only one side of the lively conversation that evening, I think this still has some merit and value to those who dare to ask questions today.
Other Papers
"The Stakeholders" in the Childs' Study of Homosexuality, December 2002 (2 pp.); download PDF file.
"We are very interested, not in what the Childs study will say about homosexuality but in what it will say about the ELCA."