(85-6)            AFFIRMATION OF WELCOME OF GAYS AND LESBIANS

 IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCH RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the gospel of Jesus Christ call all people to faith, and

WHEREAS, many gays and lesbians are baptized into the Lutheran church, as children and as adults, and are endowed with gifts of the Spirit, and

WHREAS, full participation of gays and lesbians in the whole life of the church is compatible with the gospel and Luther’s teachings, and

WHEREAS, in Christ there is neither a “heterosexual lifestyle” nor a “homosexual lifestyle” but only a Christian lifestyle, and

WHEREAS, The Reconciled-in-Christ program of Lutheran Concerned/North America pledges a congregation or organization to publicly declare themselves accepting of gays and lesbians within the full life of the church, respecting the integrity of gay and lesbian faith,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT LSM-USA affirms, as it has in seven past resolutions and positions papers, that gays and lesbians share with all people the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT LSM-USA endorse the Reconciled-in-Christ program of Lutherans Concerned/North America as a program of preaching the gospel to the whole people of God, and

BE IF FINALLY RESOLVED THAT LSM-USA encourage all affiliated groups and all congregations in the Lutheran churches to explore the issues of gay and lesbian reality and, if so moved, join the Reconciled-in-Christ program of welcome and affirmation.

SPONSORS:  Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

                        University of Minnesota – Minneapolis