#and we don't have to hold stories about marginalized people up to this impossible standard

[lastoneout]

ngl I understand a lot of the critique around Love, Simon but I really have never felt like it was an inauthentic representation of the queer experience? like the scene where Simon breaks down after being outed to his entire school against his will legit brought me to tears, that was such a brutal and honest portrayal of how horrible it is to have the choice of when and how to come out taken away from you, idk how anyone could watch that and be like "yeah obviously no one working on this had any idea what it's like to be queer"

[jmlongworth78]

Stand and Be Counted

It was my honor to stand alongside these Gospel co-workers, Lenny Duncan (our organizer), Kwame Pitts, Emily Scott, Clint Schnekloth, Amanda Gerken-Nelson, Aubrey Thonvold and Eric Worringer (not pictured because his daughter Addie needed a nap). With the help of friends, family, and chosen family, we had all made our way to the Churchwide offices of the ELCA to ensure that the written testimony of over 150 colleagues, and our own witness to the impact of Visions & Expectations and its proposed replacement Trustworthy Servants of the People of God.

Our team represented a variety of theological, ecclesial, and spiritual viewpoints, but we agreed that the church we love shouldn’t be in the business of prayerful discernment in secret, especially when it comes to the emotional, physical, financial, and relational well being of its rostered ministers and the people they serve. Secrets can promote unhealthy decisions when it comes to the most sensitive and personal parts of our lives. Printed below is the statement that was delivered as written testimony from our whole group, a message that mirrored concerns submitted by the ELCA ethnic associations. In addition, we offered individual testimony to help the council members understand our concerns.

I am deeply grateful that a direct action which could have been a fool’s errand was actually representative of the kind of prayerful discernment I long for in the church I serve. Council members (big thanks to Emma Wagner & Peder Johansen) using their voice to give us voice, both as witnesses and offering guidance for the eventual motion.

It does not escape me that this coming weekend, we will be reading one of the foundational texts of public witness and prophetic sign-action in the Gospels, Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Let us cry out once more “Hosanna” that is, “please save us!”

With much gratitude to The Rev. Emily Scott of Dreams and Visions in Baltimore, MD for drafting this statement and incorporating the feedback of the team:

Statement Regarding “Trustworthy Servants” for the Church Council of the ELCA April 5, 2019

Good morning members of the Church Council.

This is the day that God has made. We rejoice and are glad to be here with you, the leaders who provide prayerful guidance and leadership of our beloved ELCA.

We are here today because we love this church. As ELCA rostered leaders, we care deeply about the health of this body. We know that the leadership of a denomination is no easy task, and we are grateful for each council member, each bishop, each staff person who moves our church toward the waiting future.

Sometimes, there are bumpy moments along the way. That is part of being a church together. We are present at this meeting today to share our perspectives and concerns, so that we can move forward together.

It’s impossible to do this without acknowledging that for us and a large number of our colleagues, the process around Trustworthy Servants has significantly eroded our trust. If you are not familiar with the history of the document, “Vision and Expectations,” you may not know that it was originally written to exclude LGBTQ folks from serving as rostered leaders in this church. Even after the document was revised to include gay couples, the document and its expectations around sexuality and marriage has been used to press candidates for ministry into marriage earlier than they would choose, creating situations that are ultimately not life-giving. This has created a painful landscape of secrecy and distrust around issues of sexuality in our Church. While our cohort is represents a variety of perspectives and opinions regarding this document, all of us agree that secrecy, fear, and worry are an unhealthy pairing with human sexuality.

In addition, we know that life is more complicated than this document, or its recent revision represents. Our church is made up of single folks, divorced folks, people who are widowed, people who have endured abusive marriages and are therefore hesitant to enter marriage again. “Vision and Expectations” and it’s revision, “Trustworthy Servants,” casts anyone who does not fit the assumed “norm” of marriage, an aberration. And being an aberration creates feelings of shame.

In addition to concerns about sexuality, Trustworthy Servants falls short in other areas. Most notably, it is not a document that communicates grace. It sets expectations for people in recovery

that do not reflect the reality of a recovery process. The expectations around financial debt do not reflect the realities of the student debt leaders are asked to take on, the current economic conditions younger leaders face, or the constrictions created by living in poverty. The difficult and common realites of abuse within marital relationships are not addressed at all.

Many in our church deeply desire to have a rich and nuanced conversation about what it means to be a trustworthy leader. We want to write ethics that include those from a wide range of life experiences. We desire to live trustworthy lives. We simply ask that the Church work with us in creating the guidelines that will govern our common life.

We also ask that those with power in the church - bishops, staff, and candidacy committees - commit to trustworthy expectations as well, and that their conduct be included in these guidelines.

In short, we are asking that the process to replace “Vision and Expectations” be as trustworthy as we are called to be as rostered leaders.

As it turns out, this is a perfect moment to respond to the urging of the spirit, and sing a new song. You, the Church Council, are in a position to take positive action to rebuild trust, to facilitate a productive conversation, and to build an inclusive process around the replacement of this document.

We suggest the following process:

● First, if you have not done so already, read the comments that were submitted by rostered leaders on “Trustworthy Servants.” Our leaders took time and energy to write them, and they deserve to be reviewed carefully. Reconciling Works has also collected anonymous comments that Pastor Lenny will present.

● Second, decline to adopt Trustworthy Servants today, and set the path for a drafting process that is wide and inclusive.

● We suggest calling for the creation of a task force to carry out the work of revision. This task force should be composed of half women, at least 25% LGBTQIA people, 20% people of color, people with disabilities, deacons, pastors, and lay people, and include a wide range of age (including team members under 40) and marital status. We also would also suggest the inclusion of theologians and scholars who specialize in human sexuality, and experts on abuse and sexual abuse, to inform our work.

● Third, invite this task force to lead a Church-wide listening campaign, holding sessions with a variety of rostered leaders and lay people, open to the entire Church. These

sessions must be designed to promote honest feedback. The data drawn from these sessions should be anonymized, and the leaders of the sessions must not hold a position of power over those participating in these sessions.

● Fourth, be transparent about the process surrounding this document, by posting the process and progress on our ELCA website. A feeling of secrecy about the documents the govern our common lives does not contribute to a culture of trust.

At this point, you might be thinking, “that sounds like a lot of work.” And yes, it is a lot of work. We believe that it is worth it. You don't have to look far to see Christian denominations struggling with issues of sexuality. From fights around LGBTQ inclusion to rampant sex abuse in some denominations, it’s clear that this is hard and difficult work. The Church too often falls short in this area, out of fear and unhealthy power dynamics. The results are devastating.

We have the opportunity today to tell a different story. To become the denomination that’s getting it right — having open and honest conversations about sexuality, as well as what it means to live ethical lives of integrity as justice seekers in our world, discerning God’s call to live in life-giving, life-affirming ways that honor ourselves, our families, our congregants, and all those around us.

Signed,

“Trustworthy Servants” Public Witness Team

You can read the official motions adopted by the council below the break.

To thank the Domestic Mission unit, the Conference of Bishops and all the people who have shared their perspectives regarding the document “Trustworthy Servants of the People of God;”

To decline to consider the document "Trustworthy Servants of the People of God;”

To refer the document “Trustworthy Servants of the People of God” back to the Domestic Mission unit for further review and redrafting that is governed by this church's social teaching documents (i.e., Freed in Christ, Care for Creation, Sexuality, etc.). Such further consideration shall include a roadmap that consists of a process that intentionally includes diverse voices especially of those who have been most harmed by the misuse of Vision and Expectations;

To address, within the review, the current process of development and the faithful and just use of a policy document as a guide for this church;

To affirm the pastoral message regarding Vision and Expectations from the Conference of Bishops and support the conference in living into their commitment to apply the church’s standards for ministry with equity and compassion, to listen and take seriously the concerns of all our leaders—particularly those who historically have been marginalized—and to treat with dignity all those seeking to lead in our church; and

To request the Domestic Mission unit provide quarterly reports on the process to the Church Council and a draft for consideration by fall 2020 meeting.