As you may or may not be aware, the subject of performing services of blessing for same-sex couples will be coming up at this summer's convention of the ELCIC (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada). The convention will be presented with a motion that proposes allowing individual congregations to perform such blessings if they so choose. This motion comes out of a request from the Eastern Synod to bring this matter before our national convention.

Those who are delegates to the convention will have a number of options open to them. They can vote "yes" or "no." They can vote to delay any action on this proposal. They can amend the motion. They can bring other motions to the floor. No matter what action is taken, this is a very anxious time in the life of our church. People's convictions on the subject run very deep, and many within our church are affected very personally, with either themselves or family members who are involved in homosexual relationships.

Some of you may have been surprised by a "straw" poll ballot which you received over the past couple of weeks. This is an attempt to take the pulse of our own congregation on this topic, and the results of this ballot will help to inform myself, the church council, and our delegate to the ELCIC Convention in July. Although some of you have certainly spoken to me about homosexuality and related issues, most of you have not. This poll is an opportunity for the many "silent" members among us to make their voices heard as well.

Meanwhile, those who are interested in studying and discussing this issue are most certainly encouraged to do so. Printed resources are available upon request. Study resources and essays are available on the website of our national church: www.elcic.ca A website that has been set up by people within the ELCIC in order to oppose same-sex blessings points to other resources for study: www.solid-ground.ca As you can tell if you look at both websites, there is a wide range of opinion within our church, all from people striving to follow our Lord Jesus Christ and striving to live out the Scriptures by the power of the Holy Spirit. Can we humbly listen to one another and strive to understand our brothers and sisters who may have come to a different conclusion than we have?

Above all, can we listen for the voice of our God - who created us, redeemed us and sustains us by his Holy Spirit? Can we humbly ask for God's guidance and direction in all things, and the Spirit's direction as we read the Holy Scriptures? Can we see Christ in one another, and love one another as Christ has first loved us? Can we continue to pray, "Your will be done"?

I have tremendous compassion for those who have struggled with homosexual attraction their whole lives. I despise the hatred and the vitriol that has been spewed out at them over the years - often in the name of Christ. I pray that our church will make known the gospel of Jesus Christ in all that we do and will humbly strive to be faithful to our calling to be life-long learners of God and imitators of Jesus.

In Christ,
Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore