The ELCA is currently in a process to reconsider a few sections of the 2009 social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. Reconsideration is a formal process that invites the church to deliberate about specific questions related to parts of a social teaching. The reconsiderations authorized by the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly are below. The task force leading this process has prepared draft edits for the church to consider. After reading the draft edits, please share your feedback and suggestions with the task force. Please complete the following survey and be as specific as possible with your comments. More information on the process can be found at www.elca.org/Reconsiderations. Lengthier comments or suggestions that do not fit the survey format can be sent by email to Reconsiderations@elca.org. Thank you for your time and participation!

The draft edits available for public comment are related to the following authorization from the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly:
"To authorize a social statement reconsideration to revise Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (2009) so that its wording reflects current church understanding, church policy, civil law, and public acceptance of marriage of same-gender and gender non-conforming couples in accordance with 'Policies and Procedures of the ELCA for Addressing Social Concerns' (2018). While references would be reviewed throughout the whole statement, the following sections are designated for reconsideration as described here: [reference may be found at www.elca.org/socialstatements]

'Marriage: shelter and context for trust' p. 15. This would not reconsider the idea of marriage as shelter and context for trust but would consider the import that marriage legally is now a covenant between two individuals;

'Lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships' p. 18f. Revision here would not change this church's current understanding that recognizes four identified positions of bound conscience within its life p. 19, but would review wording about 'publicly accountable, lifelong monogamous same-sex relationships' in light of public acceptance of marriage of same-gender and gender-non-conforming couples;

'Loving families: ground and source for social trust' p. 21f. Review here would consider references to diversity of family configurations; and

To authorize the Office of the Presiding Bishop and Church Council to approve the parameters and expense budget of this process and identify the revenue source(s) to provide for this revision to be considered as early as the 2025 Churchwide Assembly."


"Marriage: Shelter and Context for Trust"

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* 1. In this section, how well did the edits strengthen or clarify the existing text in light of the authorization?

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* 2. Please re-read the paragraph from lines 11-22 and the footnotes for that paragraph. How well do the draft edits reflect current church understanding, church policy, civil law, and public acceptance of marriage of same-gender and gender non-conforming couples, including the import that marriage legally is now a covenant between two individuals?

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* 3. (Optional) Are there specific edits in this section you would like to affirm and/or change in relation to the authorization? (Please reference a line number if possible for each suggestion.)

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