Thursday morning plenary part 2
In a nice touch, we sang “God Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens” (“We, your children in your likeness, share inventive powers with you; great Creator, still creating, show us what we yet may do”) and then took up the social statement on genetics. Motion was made by Sec Swartling to adopt the social statement.
Report of the “Ad Hoc Committee” dealing with amendments proposed. There was a hiatus while an electronic issue was addressed. (Several synods are taking part in an experiment where each voting member was provided with an iPad, and all documents are distributed to them electronically; there seems to have been a glitch in that electronic distribution. And then it appeared that there was also a problem with the paper distribution, so time was taken to resolve all these issues.)
The first amendment substituted the word “unjustifiably” for “unduly,” modifying “endangering” in line 1198: “expand genetic research or technology while knowingly and unjustifiably endangering plant and animal species . . .” The ad hoc committee agreed that this word change strengthens the “intent of the conviction” (whatever that means). A voting member who is a PhD in genetics disagreed, arguing that the change is actually inflammatory. The motion to change “unduly” to “unjustifiably” was defeated, 431-497.
The next amendment would shift some words in bullet points from one place to another. The author of the amendment tried to explain why he wanted to do this, but his explanation was incomprehensible to me. Apparently the upshot is that in the proposed document, the matter of “expanding genetic research or technology while knowingly and unduly endangering plant and animal species” is listed as something the ELCA “raises searching questions about” while the amendment would list it as something the ELCA “rejects.” Whatever the philosophical and philological issues involved, the amendment was defeated 206-761.
A third amendment, presented by Bradley Gee, the Ad Hoc Committee declined to endorse. Now this will get all you creationists going. The amendment is to amend the text, which currently reads “This church recognizes and embraces the theoretical frameworks on which the science of genetics rests,” and say instead “This church recognizes and embraces evolution as the scientifically valid framework on which the study of genetics rests.” The chair of the Ad Hoc Committee noted that the original language has been reviewed by a number of scientists, and no one has suggested that it be changed. Furthermore, “the topic of evolution deserves broader and more appropriate forums than this social statement was designed to provide.” Mr. Gee, however, moved the amendment despite the Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendation. As he spoke to it, it became clear that his intent was, in fact, to endorse “evolution” as a scientific reality, and to take a swipe at “creation science.” One opponent, a geneticist, noted that it is not the church’s purpose to endorse a scientific paradigm. “The church did not endorse the Copernican paradigm, despite the wording of this morning’s opening hymn” (“Awake, my soul, and with the sun, thy daily stage of duty run.”) In the end, the motion to stick evolution into the statement was defeated, 51-934. So there you have it: “ELCA declines to endorse evolution by a 10-1 margin.” Now will the LCMS talk to us?
Discussion of the statement as a whole began. The first speaker opposed the statement because of inconsistency in its regard for human life, and offered some illustrations . . . which, as she went on, seemed to have an undertone of what she perceives to be the statement’s openness to abortion. The next speaker was a woman with a life-long genetic disease, who sees in the statement a word of hope for people like her. Debate then suspended for the orders of the day.
The report of the first common ballot was given; no ties, so all positions were elected.
Ecumenical partners were introduced. Grady Parsons, Stated Clerk of PCUSA, brought greetings on behalf of all the full communion partners. Other ecumenical guests were then introduced, quite a stream of them: NCC Gen. Sec., Catholic Diocese, RCA, CCTUSA, ELCIC, LWF Gen Sec, WCC rep, Episcopal Bp. NW TEX, pres. Moravian Church, Herb Mueller LCMS, Grady Parsons PCUSA, another Mennonite, United Ev. Church in Germany, Sec Gen Islamic Society of North America, UCC, AMEZion senior bishop, Disciples of Christ, Florida UMC bishop, AME Church.
Dr. Sayid Sayeed from Islamic Society was introduced to speak briefly. First time in history of ELCA we’ve been addressed by a member of the Islamic community. “I greet you in the words of Jesus: ‘Peace be with you.’” He was gracious and warm, thanking ELCA for its friendship in working on issues from Middle East peace to anti-Muslim bigotry in the U.S. He was also warmly received.
Assembly in recess for worship.
