Grabbed by the Spirit - the Monumental Day of the Assembly

I have waited a few days to to consider what to say about the final few days of the Assembly, especially the events of Friday. I am home in St. Joseph as I write this and and still tired and honestly, I feel somewhat emotionally drained.

Friday was an extremely late day.... but a day topped off by a concert given by Peter Mayer, the guitarist with Jimmy Buffett. Peter was raised by Lutheran Missionaries to Asia and does an awesome concert! It was a time for gathering and community.

Bottom line... Friday's decision by the voters at the Assembly was to allow for the ordination and "rostering"of those individuals in committed, life-long, monogamous same-gender relationships. Remember that our previous position was that same-gender individuals could be ordained and "rostered", but they had to remain celibate. Our vote changed that policy and practice. Because it is a policy, it did not require a 2/3rd majority... but only a simple majority. The policy also allows for those congregations who choose so, to call "rostered" individual. Our vote was 55% in favor.


What I was struck by was the solemn atmosphere of the Assembly following the vote. The side advocating for this change had been urging this change for over a decade.... While there was obviously great joy, it was obvious that there was respect for those who where left with feelings of loss and perhaps a new feeling of separation. There were no protests before or after the decision on by either side.

I struggled greatly with my own personal vote... truly torn and conflicted between the traditional teachings of the church and traditional readings of the written Word... and where many firmly feel the Spirit was taking us. I was reminded through the process of hearing individuals on both sides (very convincing and scriptural arguments), that as Lutherans, we read and hear the written Word, through the lens of the Living Word, or in other words, through the lens of the Gospel.