NE Iowa bishop breaks silence
Bishop Steven Ullestad won’t say whether he supports a resolution requiring gay clergy in his Northeastern Iowa Synod to “abstain from homosexual sexual relationships,” according to a report today in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Religion reporter Molly Rossiter snagged an interview with Ullestad to discuss controversial resolutions adopted by the NE Iowa Synod Council last month. Read Rossiter’s report and blog.
As previously reported by Pretty Good Lutherans, the council’s action was in response to an August decision by the ELCA national assembly to allow partnered gays to serve in the denomination’s ministries. The celibacy rule was lifted.
In another development, Bishop Ullestad sent out a pastoral letter to congregations in the NE Iowa Synod on Friday, according to his son, Erik Ullestad, a youth minister. On his blog, “koinonia,” the younger Ullestad offers brief remarks explaining the role of a bishop, followed by a copy of the bishop’s pastor letter.
(CONTINUED)
In declining to state a position on partnered gays in the ministry, Ullestad is following in position of ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. He, too, has refused to take a public stance and claimed his role was to be a neutral moderator of the issue.
Since the national assembly decision, some gay and lesbian clergy told Pretty Good Lutherans that it’s time for Hanson to break his silence.
“Neutrality makes no sense to me,” said Pastor Megan Rohr of San Francisco. “He speaks out on other justice issue, but he doesn’t talk about this as a justice issue.”
She added: “One of the number one requirements of a pastor in the ELCA is that they speak in favor of justice.”
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Photo of broken cross by Nandini Gupta. Creative Commons license.
Note: Pretty Good Lutherans has provided ongoing coverage of the synod council actions in the Northeastern Iowa Synod. This story hasn’t been covered by the ELCA News Service or The Lutheran magazine.
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Tags: Northeastern Iowa Synod, Rossiter, Ullestad
December 5th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Thanks for your refreshing reporting on this blog, Ms. Hogan.
During the Q&A session at the 2006 Hein-Fry Lectures at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Presiding Bishop Hanson quite unambiguously declared his support for the rostering of lay and ordained ministers in committed same-sex relationships. He acknowledged, with regret, that the ELCA was (then) not yet ready to take such a step, but he would be quite pleased if it could do so while he was still Presiding Bishop.
Given that there were several score people present and that no one was cautioned about confidentiality, I’ve always regarded that as a “public” position. The Presiding Bishop’s continued appropriation of “neutral moderator” on the proposals/actions of this year would ring more authenically were he to acknowledge his prior statements. Then he could either explain why they don’t currently apply or (better yet) simply show that he is indeed a fair moderator.
As one who strongly opposes the CWA’s actions regarding sexuality and the Ministry and prays that more Synods will join with the NE Iowa Synod Council’s statements, I would find that most refreshing.
December 5th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Thanks for writing. No formalities needed with me. I’m just Susan.
I would agree that a lecture is a public event. I’m wondering if others at this event could confirm that they heard the same thing, too.
A few bishops on either side of the issue have made a point of stating where they stand. Many others prefer to keep their views out of the mainstream.
December 6th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
My wife and I were at the LSTC Les Trois Eveques event with Pastor Tibbetts and we both clearly recall Bishop Hanson’s statement precisely as Pastor Tibbetts has reported it.
Unlike Pastor Tibbetts, we are in favor of the changes sought but questioned the wisdom of the Presiding Bishop in making that statement which could lead one to believe that the fix was already in on this issue.
My differences with Pastor Tibbetts on the substance of the issue notwithstanding he has correctly reported the PB’s public statement made at that event, according to my memory.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Thank you for your comments.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:16 am
What qualifies as a “neutral moderator” at the CWA? Someone who has no leanings whatsoever? Is there such a person?
In what ways did Bishop Hanson’s position or bias impact the assembly? How did he sway the outcome?
I watched bits and pieces of the assembly online. I felt that his statement following the Vote to be very pastoral to all points of view.
Finally, I pray that Christ’s coming will be concrete and real for all during this Advent season.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:48 am
What I’ve never understood is how the SE Iowa synod council can make these decisions. I know that in the times between synod assemblies the council acts as the voice of the synod, but such a major decision would seem to be something that should wait for the whole assembly. This issue is a divisive one, no question, but why does the synod council feel they have the right to make such a decision? Clarification would be appreciated.