Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Lutheran bishop makes pro-gay history
by Chuck Colbert
2012-07-11

This article shared 9398 times since Wed Jul 11, 2012
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


For the first time ever, a presiding Lutheran bishop spoke before a pro-LGBT faith group, which also serves a denominational advocacy organization.

The historic first came on July 7, when Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Church In America (ELCA) delivered the keynote address at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., during a kickoff event for a gathering of ReconcilingWorks that spanned several days.

ReconcilingWorks, formerly Concerned Lutherans, drew about 200 people to its biennial assembly, held this year in the nation's capital July 7-10.

The assembly's calendar of events included liturgical celebrations, workshops, Bible studies and yet another first—a lobbying day on Capitol Hill "to carry the group's witness for LGBT people to their individual U.S. representatives and senators," according to a press release.

Hanson's keynote touched upon a range of intersectional topics such as immigration, ministry to the poor and society's marginalized populations, and LGBT inclusion within the 4.2 million-member ELCA and beyond. During the bishop's nearly hour-long talk, he told the story of a gay college student who told Hanson that his church saved his life.

Based in Chicago, Hanson has served as presiding bishop since 2001. In 2007 he was elected to a second six-year term. A native of Minneapolis, Hanson's installation as bishop took place at Chicago's Rockefeller Chapel in October 2001.

Right after the Hanson concluded his speech, the Rev. Christopher Berry, co-presider of ReconcilingWorks, spoke about the importance of the keynote.

"He very prophetically talked about reconciliation and how it is the work of the people of God," said Berry in a phone interview.

Berry was referring to a bringing together process of the ELCA since the mainline Protestant denomination's 2009 decision allowing for the ordination of openly gay clergy and the blessing of same-gender couples, going so far as to marry them in states that issue civil-marriage licenses to gay couples.

Berry—who serves as in a Lutheran campus ministry at Western Washington University, based in Bellingham, Wash.—also said implementation of the changes is "going very well" in some synods and "very slow" in others.

"We do have more clergy being added to [church] rosters," he added. "At the same time, there are same-gender married clergy in some synods."

Synods are governing districts or jurisdictions of the ELCA.

Berry praised Hanson for his advocacy and leadership. ReconcilingWorks consulted with the bishop at length, Berry said, "throughout all the strife and the work to bring about full inclusion."

Implementation of full LGBT Lutheran equality is underway throughout the church, said Berry, albeit "not as fast as we'd like, but at a good pace."

The presiding bishop's keynote comes just a month after the name change from Concerned Lutherans to ReconcilingWorks.

Why the change? "When people heard 'Concerned Lutherans,'" Berry explained. "They thought about worried Lutherans."

This is not happening any more. "Reconciliation is a process that happens once and for all," he said. "ReconcilingWorks is a good name," one "with double entendres."

With its name change, ReconcilingWorks is drawing upon biblical references to St. Paul in his epistles (letters) warning not to let disagreements foster permanent separation among the faithful one from another.

Coincidently, ReconcilingWorks is based in St. Paul, Minn.

Hanson's keynote also comes at the same time 25 same-sex couples have brought suit in Illinois challenging the state's 16-year ban on gay marriage, a law limiting wedlock to a man and a woman.

Moreover, last month the Metropolitan Chicago Synod called for same-sex civil marriage during its annual assembly, held in Tinley Park June 1-2.

Better yet, the vote for marriage equality was decidedly lopsided, with more than 90 percent of 350 people on hand favoring it.

The local synod encompasses 202 congregations, with nearly 98,000 members, and is located in Chicago and the surrounding area.

The synod assembly also urged the Illinois Legislature and the governor to "extend the protections and dignity of marriage to all persons and to protect the freedom of religion for all faith communities and religious organizations."

Finally, the Chicago assembly urged the local bishop, the Rev. Wayne Miller, to play an active role in making the synod's position known throughout the state—to the Legislature, governor, congregations of the synod, and the public at large.

With its action, Metropolitan Chicago joins synods in Maryland; Minnesota; Washington, D.C.; and Washington state in advocating equal marriage rights.

Out West, Lutheran advocacy is at play as Washington state, too, where voters face a same-sex marriage referendum that will decide the fate a new same-sex civil-marriage law.

There, the Rev. William Christopher Boerger, bishop of the Northwest Washington Lutheran Synod, advocates marriage equality. Boerger even testified before the state House and Senate in advance of the Legislature's passing—and the governor's signing—of a bill into law.

Having hired a part-time staffer, ReconcilingWorks, said Berry, is on the ground "working diligently" with the local bishop to preserve equal-marriage rights at the ballot box.

©Copyright. Chuck Colbert. All rights reserved.


This article shared 9398 times since Wed Jul 11, 2012
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

United Church of Hyde Park hosts LGBTQ+ storytelling event 2024-03-25
- About 20 people had gathered around four round tables in the community room of the United Church of Hyde Park, 1448 E. 53rd St., on March 23. They were listening quietly to a man tell the story of how, on a ...


Gay News

Bring Chicago Home Campaign releases open endorsement letter from 100+ faith leaders 2024-02-19
--From a press release - CHICAGO — With just over a month before the March 19th primary election, prominent Chicago faith leaders will today release a letter—signed by over 100 religious leaders—endorsing the Bring Chicago Home campaign to restructure the Real ...


Gay News

WORLD Marriage in Greece, UK politics, cruise death, HRC grants 2024-02-02
- The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece unanimously agreed at a recent meeting that it is "strongly opposed" to the Greek government's promised bill on same-sex marriage and adoption, Balkan Insight reported. The conservative New ...


Gay News

Ohio man sentenced for firebombing pro-LGBTQ+ church 2024-01-30
- On Jan. 29, 2024, Ohio resident Aimenn D. Penny was sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in prison followed by three years of supervised release for attempting to burn down a pro-LGBTQ+ church, according to a ...


Gay News

VIEWS Is the Pope Catholic? Francis faces opposition in steps toward LGBTQ+ inclusivity 2024-01-02
- The recent change in Vatican policy allowing priests to bless same-gender couples has provoked an unprecedented backlash against Pope Francis and his openness to LGBTQ+ people—a backlash that some fear might devolve into a schism in ...


Gay News

WORLD Brianna Ghey, archbishops, HIV, George Michael, Albanian women 2023-12-29
- A boy and a girl, each 16, were found guilty of murdering a transgender teenager in northwest England earlier this year in a knife attack, per a Yahoo! News item that cited the AP. Brianna Ghey, ...


Gay News

Catholic Church allows priests to bless same-sex couples but reaffirms disapproval of gay marriage 2023-12-22
- LGBTQ+ couples can now receive blessings from priests, but the Catholic Church maintained its strict ban on gay marriage, according to a Vatican document approved by Pope Francis Dec. 18. This historic change in doctrine marks ...


Gay News

Greek government vows to back marriage equality 2023-12-22
- Despite opposition from the Church of Greece and within the ruling New Democracy, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government said it will eventually move to legalize same-sex marriage, The National Herald reported. However, no timetable was ...


Gay News

Dignity/Chicago welcomes new rule on church blessings for same-sex marriages 2023-12-18
--From a press release - Dignity/Chicago, the advocacy organization for LGBTQI Catholics and friends, welcomed the news that the Vatican's doctrinal office has officially declared it possible for Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions and ...


Gay News

New Ways Ministry: Pope's blessings approval is Christmas gift to LGBTQ+ Catholics 2023-12-18
--From a press release - MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland—Statement by Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry: Pope Francis gave LGBTQ+ Catholics an early Christmas gift this year by approving blessings for same-gender couples. The Vatican ...


Gay News

Pope Francis changes policy, allowing priests to bless same-sex unions; GLAAD responds 2023-12-18
--From a press release - GLAAD: "By removing barriers to priests blessing LGBTQ couples, the Pope accurately recognizes that LGBTQ people and our relationships are worthy of the same affirmation and support in the Church, and this strengthens couples in their ...


Gay News

Pope Francis's community of transwomen 2023-11-28
- It's a rare opportunity to meet the pope. It's even rarer if you're a transgender Catholic. However, on Nov. 19, in Torvaianica, Italy, a community of transwomen, many of them sex workers, were welcomed and seated ...


Gay News

Ghana cardinal: It's time to understand homosexuality 2023-11-27
- Ghana Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson told the BBC that being gay should not be considered illegal and that people should be helped to understand the issue of homosexuality better. Turkson's comments come as his country's ...


Gay News

Pope: Trans people can be baptized and act as godparents 2023-11-09
- Pope Francis has stated that trans people may be baptized and act as godparents or witnesses to marriage under the same conditions as any other adult—as long as a scandal does not result, according to PinkNews. ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Montana court, gay bishop, EEOC, Equality Forum, banned operas 2023-10-05
- A Montana court blocked enforcement of the state's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth—leading trans state Rep. Zooey Zephyr to express her gratitude, The Advocate reported. Missoula County District Court Judge Jason Marks issued a ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.