GLBT Advocacy Groups Unite for Orlando Vote

The Editor

 

  

   Goodsoil.org is an “alliance” of national GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, & transgendered) organizations - not all Lutheran - working together to affect a vote at the ELCA’s 2005 Churchwide Assembly (CWA) which is in line with the glbt point of view.  For them, the 2005 CWA in Orlando is a critical opportunity to eradicate, what they view as, unjust and discriminatory practices in the ELCA.

 

   A closer look at the www.goodsoil.org  website offers insights into this alliance.  Of note is the “Platform,” a six page document which offers insights into its agenda, strategy, and tactics.  For example:

 

   No Delay.  “We find unacceptable any attempt to delay a decision beyond Orlando 2005.  Delays beyond 2005 will be regarded as a breaking of trust between the ELCA and the lgbt and allied communities,” (p. 1).

 

   Support glbt.  In the section, “Regarding Ordination/Commissioning/Consecration,” a case is made for why the church is invited to support glbt persons in terms of “…professional aspirations, as well as the spouses, families, personal health and security…”  It also states why current ELCA policies “..discriminate and are enforced inconsistently against gay and lesbian persons…”  It also seeks a declaration from the ELCA stating the “harm done to” glbt “people through the ELCA’s policies of exclusion.”

 

   Full Marriage Rights.  The next section, “Regarding Marriage and Covenanted Same-Gender Relationships,” calls for official church sanctioning of such matters. 

 

   Action & Disobedience.  The final section, “Regarding Direct Action and Civil Disobedience in Orlando 2005,” defines direct action as “negotiation, vigiling, leafleting, visible presence of our Alliance and Soulforce at the Assembly and the possibility of civil disobedience…”  It defines civil disobedience as “…non-violent action in which one or more persons violate the civil law and/or a rule of the Assembly resulting in potential arrest by civil authorities.”  Such actions will be undertaken only if the Churchwide Assembly actions do not “satisfy the standard agreed to by the representatives of the Alliance…”

 

Commentary:

   Based on this information and its related weblog  www.goodsoil.org/discussion , one can be pretty certain that the ELCA Task Force’s recommendations are unacceptable to the Goodsoil.org Alliance standards.   And  if Dissenting Position #1 somehow makes it to the floor of the Churchwide Assembly, it would likely send the Alliance into crisis-civil-disobedience mode.   It sounds like we can probably expect more than enough made-for-the-media, publicity-grabbing, civil-disobience moments at the Orlando 2005 CWA.  It is an intriguing and ripe mission field for witnessing to the truth of Scripture.  May everyone at the CWA share the truth in love through word and deed.

 

   Those who advocate for Dissenting Position #1 have some homework to do in terms of:  1.) Biblical understanding on these issues, and  2.) their self-understanding as disciples and participants in the life of the Church.