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By Daniel J. Lehmann
For the record, a tale of firsts
Ordinations underscore change N
ext month marks the second anniversary of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly’s deci- sion to open the roster of this church to gays
and lesbians in committed relationships. The Lutheran addresses that action this month by fea-
turing the ordination of two gay men (page 32) and updating as best we can the numbers of such men and women admitted to the church roster. The magazine has touched on this decision nearly every month since the
vote, including a running report on the number of congregations taking votes to leave the ELCA, stories on budget decisions due to declining revenue and major articles. In April 2010, “Assessing the fallout” (page 20) looked at the divisions, sadness and hope since the vote. Then last January “Moving forward” (page 14) addressed congregational splits and the sorrow and joy found in those situations.
The stories of R. Guy Erwin and Keith Fry in this issue are far more per-
sonal. Their profiles tell of men qualified in every way to be ordained in the ELCA. That couldn’t happen officially before the assembly vote. The rules were changed, and ordinations like these are certain to grow in
numbers and frequency. Their tale needs to be told because it is now a fact of life within the ELCA, just as it was 40 years ago with the ordination of women.
This month’s spotlight will likely be uncomfortable for some readers. The
editors here are acutely aware of the objections raised by those opposed to the sexuality decisions. However, one of the roles of The Lutheran is to act as a mirror for the church, showing the life within it as it really is. And that reality now includes openly gay leaders as rostered ELCA pastors. Relatedly, an increasing number of queries to the magazine want to know how many members have left the ELCA since the 2009 vote. The Lutheran, thanks to the Office of the Secretary, includes a report nearly every month on congregations withdrawing from the denomination. An ex-member head- count is a far more difficult proposition.
Congregations submit trend reports annually to the Office of the Secre-
tary. Those documents include membership gains or losses. The total figures are released annually, but there is no way to know the reason why people left or who joined an ELCA parish because their former congregation pulled out.
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The latest report was issued in August 2010, showing 4,543,037 ELCA members in 2009, a drop of 90,850 from the prior year. The decline was slightly more than in the preceding two years. The statistical trends will eventually be made, but that is likely some time in the future. M
The editors here are acutely aware of the objections raised by those opposed to the sexuality decisions.
MICHAEL D. WATSON
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