
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 8, 1993                   TAG: 9312080190
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LUTHERANS WON'T FIRE TASK FORCE

Virginia Lutherans were told Tuesday that the task force that prepared a controversial report on human sexuality for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is widely mistrusted, but it won't be fired.

The denomination's executive committee made that conclusion over the weekend.

Instead, a new 11-member "consulting panel" chosen by the leadership will oversee the task force as it revises the statement, which may be considered for approval at a future Churchwide Assembly of the denomination.

The Church Council's 16-point reaction to the sexuality statement is being mailed to Lutheran pastors across the country today.

About 90 pastors in the denomination's Virginia Synod got copies of the decision Tuesday at a Human Sexuality Study on the Roanoke College campus in Salem.

In making its decision, the Church Council acknowledged the "strong reaction and widespread concern" that flooded the national offices after an Oct. 20 news report on the draft statement.

The news story highlighted the sexuality statement's support of church recognition of homosexual unions and a position that masturbation is generally a healthy activity.

Church insiders were upset that the report was released to the press before pastors received copies. And they felt the Associated Press story misled readers by not emphasizing strongly enough that it was a draft report subject to revision before being submitted to the national Churchwide Assembly for acceptance or rejection.

There also was broad criticism of the study's biblical interpretations, which some felt incorrectly contradicted traditional church teachings against homosexual behavior.

Among the speakers for the Salem event was the Rev. Eric Gritsch, a professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa., and a member of the 17-member task force that prepared the draft statement.

After the session, Gritsch said the addition of the 11-member "consulting panel" and the emphasis on hearing more reaction to the report will help the revision effort.

Members of the task force considered resigning en masse after the recent firing of the denominational staff member in charge of the study. But since the Church Council - which conducts the work of the 5.2-million member denomination between Churchwide Assemblies - refused to order the disbanding of the task force, Gritsch said he doesn't intend to resign.

The Church Council statement emphasized that it will endorse a sexuality statement only if it stands "on biblical foundations and the confessional tradition of this church, and that would merit the study, consideration, thoughtful reflection and widespread support within this church."

The task force was established according to church constitutional rules that require appointments representative of the membership of the church.

Critics of this "quota system" - under which task force membership must be multiracial, include men and women, and include homosexuals as well as heterosexuals - say it inevitably leads to statements that cannot find wide acceptance in the church.

Supporters say it ensures minority voices are heard on issues central to the life of the church.

by CNB