242 WHERE IS EVANGELICAL FEMINISM TAKING US?
and Affirming Baptists, and the United Methodist Reconciling
Congregation Program.^14The ELCA has established a task force to formulate a recommen-
dation regarding homosexuality, but some observers think the mem-
bership of the task force almost guarantees a liberalization of its current
policy opposing homosexual activity:
In April, the ELCA Task Force on Human Sexuality met in Chicago
for its second conference. The denomination commissioned the task
force “to guide” the ELCA’s decision making on gay clergy and the
blessing of same-sex relationships. But its expert panels may actually
be a series of stacked decks. For example, task force science panelists
included a pair of Lutheran clinical psychologists who offered as fact
the opinion of the gay-friendly American Psychological Association:
“[Sexual] orientation is not a choice, it cannot be changed, [and]
efforts to attempt to modify it may even be harmful.” Another sci-
ence panelist cited the discredited Kinsey Report as support for legit-
imizing homosexuality.
Roanoke College religion professor Robert Benne, a biblical con-
servative and task force panelist, told World the ELCA task force
“certainly is weighted toward those who are open to revising basic
teaching on homosexual relations.” In addition, he said the presence
of open homosexuals at every discussion “makes it difficult for folks
who are uncertain or just plain nice to voice objections or even reser-
vations about the revisionist agenda. Most church people like to be
polite and accepting, so they often accept that agenda out of the desire
to ‘keep the peace in love.’”^15In August, 2005, the quadrennial Assembly of the ELCA passed an
ambiguous statement that opened the door for regional bishops to
endorse same-sex unions and ordinations. One proposed recommenda-
tion urged “that this church welcome gay and lesbian persons into its
life, and trust pastors and congregations to discern ways to provide
faithful pastoral care to same-sex couples.” It was amended to replace
the words “same-sex couples” with “all to whom they minister,” a
(^14) Edward E. Plowman, “Gathering Storm,” World, May 6, 2006, 20.
(^15) Ibid., 21.