The Seven Sisters

[gcnuss]

How can it be changed? Is it something that the rank and file members can do? Was it done by a group of people who wanted to keep from offending?

As I understand it (and I’m not an expert on the running of the ELCA), the provisions of the ELCA’s health plan are set by the Board of Pensions which answers to the Church Council.

Policy issues (including things such as the Social Statement on
Abortion) are considered by the biennial Churchwide Assembly and, if passed, become official statements of the church. The current statement on abortion was adopted in 1991.

From Jon:

After I posted that, I wondered if I unfairly called you out. Hope you didn’t take it that way. Thanks for responding.

No problem. I’ll do my best to respond to almost anything. I enjoy the opportunity to look more closely at things that aren’t the biggest blips on my radar screen. (Day-to-day ministry keeps me occupied most of the time, but I need to raise my head and look around more often.)

With regard to the ELCA and its policies (including insurance) on abortion, there have been a number of pastors who have, not for that reason alone but it has figured in, departed from the ELCA.

If you haven’t seen the book There We Stood, Here We Stand by Timothy Drake, you will find it interesting. The abortion issue is raised by at least one of the Lutheran pastors who chose to swim the Tiber.

Those are a few thoughts for now.