A decision last August by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to allow pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships awakened a theological tempest for its congregations across the country. Reaction ranged from celebration to despair.
The decision also exposed varying reactions in ELCA churches in western North Dakota. The differences, which have occurred not only among churches but within them, have prompted members to do some soul-searching.
"This has led to a lot of good conversation in a number of churches," said the Rev. Mark Narum of Stanley, bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod. "Some may make a statement or declaration. Some are saying this doesn't affect them at all so they just plan to continue on in the ministries they are involved in."
The synod has prepared a template that interested churches can use to draft a declaration stating they believe homosexuality is wrong and they will not call someone who is in a same-sex relationship. The synod consists more than 75,000 Christians in 193 congregations.
The number of churches considering whether to end their affiliation with the ELCA is few, Narum said. The only churches to vote have been Oak Valley in Velva, which didn't get the necessary two-thirds, and First Lutheran in Harvey, which did get the votes.
The Rev. Tim Johnson at Oak Valley said the church put discussion on hold, although there is enough strong feeling that the issue is likely to revive at some point.
Some congregations also have seen individual members leave, although reports are that those numbers are small.
The Rev. Timothy Swenson, who pastors churches in Alexander and Arnegard, said he no longer will engage in any activity that supports the ELCA. On Dec. 19, he entered "in statu confessionis," a Lutheran tradition of protest done for the sake of the Gospel and those who are in error.
"The decision in August was merely the latest in a long string of errors," Swenson said. "I have been working to try to bring some sensibility to our denomination for a least a dozen years."
Swenson has authored a book, "Stand and Confess: How I came to declare "in statu confessionis" against an idolatrous institution - the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)." The August decision was the impetus for him to complete the book and make it available to the public.
Swenson said his confessional action enables him to remain in the ELCA while staying true to his ordination vows and his call to his churches. He will continue to serve them. Congregation members are considering whether they, too, individually want to enter in statu confessionis.
Swenson said if the ELCA makes no move to change its direction by the next churchwide assembly in August 2010, he will consider leaving.
Narum emphasized that congregations may call or not call any pastor they want without being challenged on grounds of discrimination.
"Anytime a name is put forward to them, it's up for their prayerful decision whom they will call," he said.
For some churches, that's good enough.
The Rev. John Streccius at Zion Lutheran said his congregation has offered no strong negative response to the new policy.
"Our reactions have been reserved," Streccius said. "No action is being taken at this point in terms of any kind of changes in our affiliation with the ELCA whatsoever."
The Rev. Norm Paskowsky with Peace Lutheran in Burlington said the decision of the churchwide assembly isn't a pressing issue with his congregation.
"Our church and the majority of churches in western North Dakota would not call an openly gay clergy person so it's not something that we are concerned about. We are concerned more about the mission," he said. "We have a lot of people that are unchurched, and that's our mission to reach out to them."
The Rev. Mike Pretzer at First Lutheran in Rugby said his church held a four-week session looking at the "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" document for members interested in learning more. Some people in his church have voiced disappointment with the policy, but response has been subdued.
"Our congregation has been quite low key about it," Pretzer said. "We are just calmly moving on."
The Rev. Heather Brown with the Lutheran churches in Glenburn and Lansford said pragmatism is the best word to describe the response of her congregations.
Brown, who was a delegate to the churchwide assembly, said most of the discussion at the Minneapolis meeting came from people from major metropolitan areas where the church culture is much different than in North Dakota. As is often the case, the things that are important in places like New York City aren't necessarily relevant to North Dakota, which accounts for the local pragmatism, she said.
"People feel that it's not being forced on them," she said of the decision.
Brown added the congregations have had good working relationships with the synod and ELCA and none of that has changed with the assembly vote. They continue to raise money to support missions and they go on with the other ministries of the church as they always have, she said.
For other congregations, the assembly's decision has been more troubling.
The Rev. Mike Pancoast at First Lutheran in Minot said the church wants to reach out with the Gospel to all people, regardless of sexual orientation. However, the assembly's decision is a step further than some pastors and congregation members want to go, he said,
The Rev. Jeff Hoverson at Bread of Life Lutheran in Minot said his church may vote on a declaration in January. Personally, he opposes the new policy and is troubled because, as a pastor, he sees his main role as leading people to God's forgiveness.
"If we encourage someone to deny their sin, we are actually putting up barriers to forgiveness," he said.
The discussion has been difficult for Bread of Life because members hold varying opinions.
"Just having the discussion, it heightens the tension and potential for conflict. That's what we are seeing all across the nation," Hoverson said.
Many area churches have held forums to provide information and allow members to discuss the new policy. At times, participants have been asked to privately rate their feelings, whether negative or positive, on a scale of one to five. Regardless of the size of the church, Narum said, the surveys come back with ratings that cross the entire scale.
The Rev. David Maxfield of Christ Lutheran in Minot said the conflict comes because the new policy is a fundamental change in the church's teaching on a topic that is very personal. At the extremes, views are diametrically opposed, yet churches are trying to find a balance, he said.
"One of the neat things about us in Minot is we try to struggle through this together. I don't see a lot of polarization," Maxfield said.
For churches that can't see their way clear to adopt the new policy, leaders of Lutheran Coalition for Renewal are proposing to create a new Lutheran church body. Lutheran CORE plans to exist as a free-standing synod for break-away ELCA churches but will continue to provide fellowship with ELCA-affiliated churches that share its mission. It hopes to put a formal structure in place at its annual convocation next August in Ohio.
"It's not the desire of Lutheran CORE leadership to divide the ELCA," Maxfield said. "But in light of decisions that were made in August, they feel that the direction that the churchwide assembly chose to go in is not a direction that is consistent with 2,000 years of scriptural church teaching."
The Rev. Michael Johnson with Christ Lutheran, who attended the August assembly, said there has been confusion about the decision and what it means going forward.
"This becomes a very personal struggle, not just for congregants who are worried about their church but for pastors as well who are trying to figure out what their church has done and what their church is doing," he said.
Pastors at Bethany Lutheran in Minot said the difficulty for pastors is in finding a way to minister to people with diverse viewpoints. Bethany will be considering establishing a church statement on same-gender relationships and the clergy later this month.
"The whole thing would be simpler if all the members of any congregation were of one mind," said the Rev. Janet Hernes Mathistad of Bethany. "The challenge for pastors is we want to be pastor to everybody, not to pick a side."
The Rev. Gerald Roise at Bethany said the challenge is especially difficult for pastors who consider the church's new policy to be in conflict with Scripture.
"We want to be loyal and truthful to the Gospel first, but we are also called to be pastors to our own congregants," he said.
Narum acknowledged this has been a difficult time for pastors. The synod will hold a worship, communion and prayer event for pastors and other church leaders and staff, along with their spouses, in mid-January to encourage them.
"That's one of the things we can do is help go back to our source of strength and that's the Gospel as presented by Jesus Christ," Narum said.
Narum said the differences of opinion among the people in the synod have always existed even if they haven't always been so out in the open. Congregations have figured out how to work together despite differences, he said.
"Now we need to continue to build on that," he said. "Honestly, I would much rather never have had to have gone through these conversations, but the reality is, I think in the end, we are going to come out a stronger church because we have had to sit down together and have discussions where we deeply disagree and at the same time figure out how we continue to walk together as brothers and sisters in Christ."
