Posts Tagged ‘Northeastern Iowa Synod’

NE Iowa synod council rescinds resolutions

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

UPDATE: Pretty Good Lutherans first brought you the story below in November. Today, members of the Northeastern Iowa Synod Council voted to rescind both resolutions described.

The vote was 10 to 3 with one abstention on the resolution on the “bound conscience” of the synod with respect to changes in ministry policies, according to sources.

The vote was 9 to 4 with one abstention on the resolution in opposition to actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Here’s the original story:

© Pretty Good Lutherans

The Northeastern Iowa Synod Council does not want  partnered gays and lesbians serving in ELCA ministries.

The council has drawn up two resolutions.

One statement the ELCA’s new Social Statement on Human Sexuality.

The other statement challenges the concept of “bound conscience.”

Question: Can those readers with expertise shed light on this action and what it means? Is the council’s decision likely to stand? Put it in perspective for us!

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NE Iowa bishop breaks silence

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

Broken crossBishop 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.

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