What Does the Lutheran Church Teach About Gender and Sexuality?
As a congregation, we are a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – a denomination of approximately 9,000 congregations.
Human Sexuality: Gift & Trust
In 2009, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved a social statement entitled Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.
The Churchwide Assembly is the highest governing body of the ELCA, composed of elected voting members from across the denomination. Social Statements provide the framework for how we shape our life together – providing the theological and ethical background that informs the policies of the denomination, synods, and congregation.
The 2009 social statement gives a theological and moral background that serve as a foundation for talking about sexuality and gender. You can read the entire statement by clicking the button below.
The Churchwide Assembly is the highest governing body of the ELCA, composed of elected voting members from across the denomination. Social Statements provide the framework for how we shape our life together – providing the theological and ethical background that informs the policies of the denomination, synods, and congregation.
The 2009 social statement gives a theological and moral background that serve as a foundation for talking about sexuality and gender. You can read the entire statement by clicking the button below.
Gift and Trust reflects the diversity of opinion within our church, and describes four positions that are held with integrity within the church:
1. There are those within the church who believe that same-gender relationships are inherently sinful and against the intention of God, and those engaged in same-gender relationships should be called to repentance.
2. There are those within the church who believe that, while same-gender relationships are sinful, those engaged in them should be in committed relationships (not to be equated with opposite-gender marriage).
3. There are those within the church who believe that Scripture does not address the reality of monogamous, consensual, and loving same-gender relationships, and those who are engaged in same-gender relationships should be in committed relationships (not to be equated with opposite-gender marriage).
4. There are those within the church who believe that Scripture does not address the reality of monogamous, consensual, and loving same-gender relationships, and therefore persons in same-gender relationships should be engaged in relationships that hold the same commitments, responsibilities, and privileges as opposite-gender marriage.
In 2009, each of these four positions was held up as a valid position for a congregation and individuals in our denomination.
1. There are those within the church who believe that same-gender relationships are inherently sinful and against the intention of God, and those engaged in same-gender relationships should be called to repentance.
2. There are those within the church who believe that, while same-gender relationships are sinful, those engaged in them should be in committed relationships (not to be equated with opposite-gender marriage).
3. There are those within the church who believe that Scripture does not address the reality of monogamous, consensual, and loving same-gender relationships, and those who are engaged in same-gender relationships should be in committed relationships (not to be equated with opposite-gender marriage).
4. There are those within the church who believe that Scripture does not address the reality of monogamous, consensual, and loving same-gender relationships, and therefore persons in same-gender relationships should be engaged in relationships that hold the same commitments, responsibilities, and privileges as opposite-gender marriage.
In 2009, each of these four positions was held up as a valid position for a congregation and individuals in our denomination.
Gender in the ELCA
The ELCA (through our predecessor church bodies) has ordained women as pastors of Word and Sacrament since 1970.
We have taken many official actions as a denomination condemning sexism, gender-based violence, and committing ourselves to the work of a more equal society and church. You can read the most recent social statement on the ELCA website, Faith, Justice, and Sexism (2019).
As of 2023, we do not have an official social statement on gender identities and what it means to be a transgender person of faith.
The result of the 2009 social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust was a shift in the recognized practices and the lived faith in our communities and congregations.
We have taken many official actions as a denomination condemning sexism, gender-based violence, and committing ourselves to the work of a more equal society and church. You can read the most recent social statement on the ELCA website, Faith, Justice, and Sexism (2019).
As of 2023, we do not have an official social statement on gender identities and what it means to be a transgender person of faith.
The result of the 2009 social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust was a shift in the recognized practices and the lived faith in our communities and congregations.
ELCA Practices
- Congregations were given permission – based on their context – to decide whether or not to perform same-gender marriages or relationship blessings (as allowed by law in their setting).
- It was no longer considered a violation of our ethics and expectations for a pastor or deacon to be in a long-term, monogamous same-gender relationship.
Congregations find themselves with a variety of practices across the denomination. Some perform same-gender marriages. Others do not.
In our shared life as a denomination:
- Nearly 32% of the pastors and deacons serving in our church are women (closer to 50% of those who are enrolled in seminary).
- The Presiding Bishop and a growing number of the synodical bishops are women.
- Our denomination ordains persons who openly identify as LGBTQ as pastors and deacons.
Our denomination has elected persons persons who openly identify as LGBTQ as bishops in this church.
