Text: Luke 12:49-56
19 August 2007
Topic: Choosing Sides
As I said in the announcements, we had a wonderful vacation, a family reunion, time in the woods, great weather, total relaxation, no stress. But, when I returned, I read the gospel for today, in preparation for my sermon. It was the exact opposite of what I’d been experiencing over the last two weeks. I went from peace in the woods to the words of Jesus saying happy family reunions may well become a thing of the past and replaced with confrontations with family members and huge disagreements with others. It’s not what I expected when I returned from a very restful time away with family.
After hearing the gospel for today, I suspect you might be feeling a little bit of the same. I mean, don’t we all come to worship each week looking for a happy hello, a little peace and quiet, a little bread for the journey, and a fond farewell at the end? Isn’t this what we all want when we come to worship? I doubt we come to worship expecting to be told we’d better be prepared for family fights over the meaning and interpretation of the gospel. But that’s what Jesus is saying in our gospel for today.
At his birth, Jesus was hailed as the Prince of Peace, the one who would be the bearer of Good News about the Kingdom of God reigning among us. Later on, he became known as the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One who would bring about a New Day on this earth. It all seemed so happy and serene.
But, with these words of Jesus today, we are confronted with the harsh reality that the coming of the Kingdom of God is going to take a toll, a heavy toll. Jesus let his hearers know it’s no easy thing to believe in a God of justice and morality. It’s no vacation in the woods following a God of compassion and hope.
For in this world, there are forces that do NOT seek justice for all, nor do they follow a moral code that honors God. There are forces on this earth that could care less about offering compassion and hope to the poor and the defenseless because it’s either not expedient or it’s not profitable.
God sent Jesus to bring about radical change to the order of this earth. To accomplish this, God enlisted His One and only Son to gather followers who would speak and act compassionately and justly in this world, to do the Will of God. This is why Jesus said in our gospel for today, he “…came to make people choose sides,” (Luke 12:50b CEV). He was letting us know that “doing the Will of God” wasn’t going to be some kind of vacation in the woods. Faithful people would be required to choose sides, sometimes over against other faithful people. And that only in the end, hopefully, prayerfully, the Will of God will be done.
As you entered worship today you received a summary of the actions taken at Tenth Biennial Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the national church organization to which Good Shepherd and our synod belongs. It is a very, very short version of what took place in Chicago last week. And, it doesn’t tell you anything about the history and context of the decisions that were made.
(For website readers of my sermon, the entire text of the summary is printed in italics at the end of this sermon.)
As the voting members of the assembly gathered for prayer each day, they asked God’s Spirit to guide them, that God’s Will be done. And somehow, they were all led, but ended up voting on two different sides of the same issue. Decisions were made, based on people’s understanding of the Gospel. They chose sides, like Jesus said. Within the church family, there was debate and even dispute. And in the end, there was peace, at least for now.
Let me illustrate how difficult some of these decisions were by highlighting just three of the issues our Churchwide assembly tackled last week. People of good will and strong faith voted on opposite sides of the same issue.
The first was the issue of whether or not to reprimand pastors who are gay but living in a committed relationship with a person of the same sex. There are many in the ELCA who believe that gay pastors who are living in a committed relationship with a person of the same sex should NOT be allowed to serve as an ordained pastor in our church. There just as many who believe that gay pastors living in a committed relationship with a person of the same sex SHOULD BE allowed to serve. What the assembly decided is to delay making any firm decisions until the Churchwide assembly in 2009 and to exercise “restraint in discipline” until the issue is decided at a later time.
A second issue the assembly wrestled with was our church’s role in helping resolve and heal the conflict between Israel and Palestine. What you don’t read in that summary is that the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land, Bp. Munib Younan, is at the very center of the political and religious discussions regarding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in that region of the world.
Two years ago, with Bp. Younan’s counsel and sage advice, the ELCA offered a strategy for peace between Israel and Palestine in a document called, “Peace Without Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land.” This strategy has received almost unanimous support from within the Church but has run into great opposition when presented to the powers that be. The ELCA’s voting members have chosen the side of peace and, last week, reaffirmed it’s proposal for peace in the Middle East.
Finally, a third issue which the assembly voted upon was to oppose “any escalation of the war in Iraq,” while at the same time “welcoming and supporting” those returning from military service in Iraq. As we well know, there are people of good will on both sides of this war. Nevertheless, the ELCA, with a vote in assembly last week, spoke to the issue as they felt led by the Spirit. The people chose sides, like Jesus said they should do.
Jesus said, “I came to make people choose sides.” (Luke 12:50b CEV) In an earlier part of Luke’s gospel, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19 NRSV)
Clearly, Jesus came for his followers to choose the side of justice over injustice, peace over war, compassion over wanton disregard, and freedom over against slavery. The problem comes in sorting out what is just, what is peace, what is compassionate, and what is true freedom.
This is why we need to study the Word of God, to truly seek the knowledge and heart of God in all matters that confront us in this world. We need to do, as our mission statement says, “To Know God’s Word” so that we can judge rightly which sides to choose. The ELCA sought to do this last week in assembly.
So much for an easy transition from the woods back into the real world! AMEN
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Brief Summary of Actions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Tenth Biennial Assembly
August 6-11, 2007, Chicago
The Tenth Biennial Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was held Aug. 6-11, 2007, at Navy Pier, Chicago. About 2,000 people participated, including 1,069 voting members. The theme was “Living in God’s Amazing Grace: Thanks Be to God!”
Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson Re-Elected
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, 60, was elected to serve a second six-year term as presiding bishop. Hanson was re-elected on the second ballot with 888 votes of the 1,029 cast. Seventy-five percent of the ballots cast are required for election on the second ballot. The runner-up nominee, the Rev. Karl P. Donfried, received 73 votes. Hanson fell two votes short of being re-elected on the first or nominating ballot. He begins his second term Nov. 1. Hanson was first elected presiding bishop at the 2001 Churchwide Assembly. In 2003 he was elected president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and will serve in that role until 2010.
David D. Swartling Elected Secretary
David D. Swartling, 60, a Seattle attorney, was elected to a six-year term as ELCA secretary. Swartling was elected on the fifth ballot, 611 to 366, over the Rev. Paul A. Schreck, executive for constitution and rostering interpretation and oversight, ELCA Office of the Secretary. Swartling will succeed the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, who has been secretary since the ELCA was formed in 1987. Almen announced last year he would not seek a fifth term and will leave office Oct. 31. He was presented the Servus Dei (Servant of God) Medal at the assembly, given to churchwide officers who are completing their terms.
Assembly Encourages Restraint in Discipline of Congregations, Leaders
The Churchwide Assembly made no changes to ELCA standards for professional leaders, declining proposals that suggested specific policy changes. By a vote of 538 to 431, the assembly asked its synods and bishops to “refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining” people and congregations that call otherwise-qualified candidates in mutual, chaste and faithful committed
same-gender relationships, and it called for restraint in disciplining rostered leaders in committed same-gender relationships. The proposal was adopted as a substitute for a recommendation of the Memorials Committee.
Following the decision, Hanson said, “These are words of counsel. They are not words that change the standards of the church. They reflect the mind of this assembly as it seeks to give counsel to the leaders of this church.”
The Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality is currently developing a social statement on human sexuality for consideration by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Voting members referred to the task force memorials regarding same-sex blessings, ELCA clergy standards and other matters. The assembly added an amendment to its referral on clergy standards, directing the task force to “specifically address and make recommendations to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly on changes to any policies that preclude practicing homosexual persons from the rosters of this church.”
“Book of Faith” Initiative Affirmed
The assembly endorsed “Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible,” a five-year initiative to promote study of the Bible. The initiative grew out of a proposal the North Carolina Synod made to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. One recommendation stressed the importance of Scripture for believers “throughout the ages” and thanked the North Carolina Synod for proposing the initiative. It was adopted by a vote of 1,000 to 19. A companion recommendation, adopted 956 to 68, gave specific suggestions for ways to “invite and encourage all members, expressions, institutions and partners of this church to commit themselves regularly and increasingly
to hearing, reading, studying, sharing and being formed by God’s Word.”
Education Social Statement Adopted
With a 949 to 35 vote, the assembly adopted a social statement, “Our Calling in Education,” which addresses issues of children’s faith formation, equitable access to education, quality of U.S. public schools, and support for Lutheran schools, colleges and campus ministries. The assembly also adopted the statement’s accompanying implementation actions. Several amendments were adopted, including the addition of language that addresses the specific needs of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities as well as students with disabilities. Social statements are significant documents adopted by the Churchwide Assembly. There are now nine ELCA social statements.
Assembly Strengthens ELCA’s Financial Future
Striving to strengthen the future financial resources of the ELCA, voting members accepted a report with recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Committee on Mission Funding, appointed to study the ELCA’s funding policies and practices. By a 623 to 52 vote, the assembly received “with gratitude” the committee’s report, commended the content of the report for study
and reflection throughout this church, and fostered a renewed commitment to “vigorous mission-support efforts.” The assembly called for the development of a resource for presentation to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly to “help congregations assess their responsible and accountable use of God’s resources commended to their care.”
Assembly Asks for Social Statement on Criminal Justice by 2013
By a vote of 957 to 68, the assembly directed the ELCA Church in Society program unit to develop a social statement on criminal justice for consideration by the 2013 Churchwide Assembly. Requests for the statement grew out of memorials from three synods. The social statement will be developed following consultation with church members and others involved in criminal justice, and it is expected to deal with topics such as the prison system, rehabilitation for those convicted of crimes and the current cost of incarcerating criminals.
ELCA Assembly Extends Full Communion Relationship with Moravian Church
Voting members extended the ELCA’s full communion relationship with the Moravian Church in America to the East West Indies and the Alaska Provinces of the Moravian Church in America by a vote of 999 to 23. The 1999 Churchwide Assembly adopted a proposal for full communion with the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Moravian Church in America.
The assembly adopted several other proposals:
+ Evangelical Lutheran Worship was “received with thanksgiving” as this church’s primary worship resource. Released in 2006, about 725,000 volumes of the book have been distributed.
+ It called for a churchwide strategy for responding to HIV and AIDS to build on and deepen current denominational engagement with the pandemic in the United States and around the world. The resolution urged further prayer, charity, advocacy and education efforts. The ELCA committed $1 million to be used for the strategy’s implementation. The assembly asked the
Church Council to consider committing up to $1 million more for implementation of the strategy.
+ The assembly invited renewed efforts by members and congregations to “reach and surpass, as soon as possible,” a goal of $25 million in annual giving to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
+ The assembly said Lutherans should study the situation in Darfur, Sudan, and advocate to federal officials on behalf of Darfur, a place where the U.S. government has called the mass killing “genocide.” The action praised the presiding bishop for the efforts he and the LWF have made to address the situation in Darfur.
+ Voting members declared their opposition to “any escalation of the war” in Iraq and asked this church to call on the U.S. government to “take immediate and comprehensive steps to end the violence and establish a peaceful, stable, and just society in that country.” They urged the ELCA to engage in “moral deliberation about the situation in Iraq,” urged concern for military personnel and their families, and asked ELCA members to make their views known to members of Congress.
+ ELCA congregations and other Lutheran agencies should provide a “welcoming and supporting environment for returning military veterans,” according to an assembly resolution.
+ The assembly called on the ELCA to recommit to this church’s strategy for engagement in Israel and Palestine, including a call for economic initiatives. An assembly amendment said that economic initiatives could, in consultation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, include “purchasing of products from Palestinian providers and exploration of the feasibility of refusing to buy products produced in Israeli settlements.” The assembly also called for examination of investment activity by the ELCA and added an amendment that specifically excludes “the option of divesture.” Awareness-building, accompaniment and advocacy activities are components of the strategy, adopted by the Church Council in 2005, and the ELCA “Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land” campaign that the 2005 Churchwide Assembly adopted.
+ With a 318 to 309 vote, the assembly asked synod bishops to discuss their accountability “to the adopted policies, practices and procedures of the ELCA” and requested that a report be brought to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.
+ Budgets for the ELCA churchwide organization for 2008 and 2009 were adopted.
+ The assembly acted on several other memorials by pointing out previous actions on the specified subject, declining to act or referring them to the Church Council and churchwide units.
Eleventh Biennial Assembly
AUGUST 17-23, 2009
Minneapolis
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