2000-2 Proposed Resolution to LSM-USA

 

Purpose:           The purpose of this legislative action is to offer support to University Lutheran Chapel, Berkeley, California in their selection of of the Rev. Jeff Johnson. 

 

WHEREAS,     the University Lutheran Chapel at Berkeley, California has, for over a half a  century, been the voice of  Lutherans tradition in faithful proclamation of the saving Gospel in Word and Sacraments, and courageous  advocacy for justice and peace in church and society, and

 

WHEREAS,     on 04/26/00, Bishop Mattheis of the Sierra Pacific Synod formally placed University Lutheran Chapel under censure for calling an  unrostered pastor, and

 

WHEREAS,     on 09/29/00, Bishop Mattheis announced that he would not take further action  against ULC, and

 

WHEREAS,     University Lutheran’s call of Rev. Jeff Johnson was an act of conscience of a  deeply faithful congregation,  prayerfully considered, and believed by the congregation to be a necessary step in moving our church toward a more just  policy on one of the major civil rights issues of our time, and

 

WHEREAS,     the Sierra Pacific Synod and the Tri-Synod Board for campus ministry have  both formally voted in support of  changes which would allow for ordination of gay and lesbian persons, and

 

WHEREAS,     the ULC is a Christian witness on issues of justice, conscience, and equality for  this movement and the Lutheran Church as a whole;

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:

  1. Lutheran Student Movement-USA will send a thank you letter to the Bishop of Sierra Pacific Synod and the Sierra Pacific Synod Council for their faithful decision, and
  2. Lutheran Student Movement-USA will send a letter of encouragement to the ELCA National Church Council and Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson encouraging them in further thoughtful study of homosexuality in the church, to be composed by the LSM-USA National Council no later than March 1, 2000,
  3. Lutheran Student Movement - USA affirms University Lutheran Chapel’s faithful decision to call the Reverend Jeff Johnson, and that Lutheran Student Movement - USA fully support in prayer the ministry of University Lutheran Chapel, Berkeley, California. 

 

Author:

Michael Poland

Sponsored by: University of Nebraska at Kearney