Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor: Lutherans Talk about Human Sexuality

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the purpose of this study?
A: The purpose of the study "Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor:
Lutherans talk about Human Sexuality" is to invite the wider church
"to the table" with the Task Force for the ELCA Studies on
Sexuality. Together we can use the wisdom of our faith tradition to
reflect on the complexities of sexuality in our lives and our culture.

Through this study, the task force hopes to:

Offer as a church of the Lutheran tradition a clear theological
framework in which to carry out the discussion of sexuality.

Generate responses to gain a better sense of the concerns, issues, and
urgency of the ethical decisions facing ELCA Lutherans.

Probe the resources members call upon to make decisions on these
matters, including where they seek guidance from our church.

Q: Why are we writing a social statement on human sexuality?
A: Responding to a memorial from a synod assembly, the Churchwide
Assembly in 2001 voted to request a social statement on human sexuality
and reaffirmed that decision in 2003. The ELCA has two statements of
predecessor church bodies on sexuality, but no social statement of its
own on human sexuality. The ELCA's message "Sexuality: Some Common
Convictions" summarizes the areas of agreement of the predecessor
church bodies.

Q: What will be in the study?
A: The core of the study is found in eight sessions devoted
specifically to human sexuality and related topics. Participants are
invited to engage in moral deliberation on these topics from the
perspective of Paul's letter to the Galatians and Martin Luther's
essay, "On the Freedom of a Christian." Two resources in the booklet
are provided to help interested readers understand the theological
framework provided by Galatians and Luther's essay. The eight sessions
of the study invite participants to think about and discuss a range of
topics such as marriage, the commercialization of sexuality, sexuality
and power, widespread cohabitation, and human trafficking.

Q: Why does the study use the letter of Galatians and Luther's essay,
"On the Freedom of a Christian" as foundation and guide for our
approach to discussing sexuality?
A: Lutherans take the Bible seriously. The task force's previous
study included sections on how we read the Bible. These were received
very positively. Lutherans always intend to look at the Christian life
through the lens of Scripture and Lutheran teaching. For this study,
Galatians and "On the Freedom of a Christian" can help us think
about the implications of the Gospel. We call this an "evangelical
ethic."

Q: What is the relationship of this study to the social statement?
A: "Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor" is the third study
resource produced for this church by the task force. The responses to
"Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor," together with the
responses from this church to the two previous studies, help the task
force shape the social statement on human sexuality that will be
considered by the Churchwide Assembly in 2009.

Q: How can I encourage others to use the study?
A: Tell people that the study aims to address the realities of
sexuality in our society, engaging people with vexing issues they may
face in their home and communities. Vignettes will evoke the kinds of
conversations people have in their everyday lives.

Q: How should I plan for the study?
A: The task force recommends that participants plan for an educational
setting such as a weekend retreat or a six-to-eight session format. This
study can be particularly effective for:
adult education series
youth group discussions
congregational bible study and retreats
synod assemblies or breakout sessions
any gathering of church leaders

Q: What about what's not in the study?
A: Taken together, all three studies that the task force has prepared
for this church have provided a fairly comprehensive survey of human
sexuality, but it is impossible to include every aspect of human
sexuality in a social statement. The task force anticipates that
feedback from this church will help focus the social statement.

Q: How can I get a copy?
A: Visit www.elca.org/faithfuljourney to pre-order printed copies or to
download the study beginning December 4, 2006. For multiple copies
please call 1-800-328-4648. Each ELCA congregation will receive a
printed copy in early December.

Q: What's next?
A: Responses to the study are due to the task force on November 1,
2007. Respondents may fill in the form included with the booklet and
mail it in or complete the form online at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney .
The task force will develop the first draft of the social statement by
early 2008. The proposed social statement will come to the church for
consideration in the spring of 2009 and will be considered by the ELCA
Churchwide Assembly in August 2009.

Pastor Kathie Bender Schwich
Executive for Synodical and Constituent Relations
Assistant to the Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Kathie.BenderSchwich@elca.org
773-380-2551