Unlike previous sexuality statements produced by the ELCA, this one made a point of not telling you who adhered to which position—to the official recommendation or to either of the dissenting positions. Apparently it was considered in very poor taste for the three pastors behind Dissenting Position #1 to declare themselves publicly, as Bp. Peter Strommen indicated in an ELCA News Release. Apparently it was in even worse taste to “make formal public statements or initiate what may be perceived as their own news release.” It’s acceptable to depart from the consensus of the church across time and space—but initiate your own press release! My heavens!

So far we have no idea who is behind Dissenting Position #2. One wonders, in one’s more cynical moments, whether there really is anyone behind DP2; or if perhaps DP2 only was thought of after DP1, to make the whole Report look more balanced—or to make the main Recommendation look more centrist. But this is only idle speculation.

Most of what is found in DP2 is precisely what you’d expect, and there’s no need to belabor the obvious. But there is a curious point or two that merits a mention.

The declared lack of “consensus” in the church (which seems to mean “any disagreement whatsoever”), is taken as reason to abandon offering biblical reasons for marrying and ordaining homosexuals. There isn’t even a pretence of offering distinctly Lutheran reasons for it, since one of the provisions suggests: “A process will be developed and expedited for the reception of ministers from other Christian bodies whose reception was previously precluded solely on account of being in, or intending to be in, a lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationship” (832-834). It won’t matter what such persons believe or teach theologically (justification by works? real absence in the sacrament? Unitarianism? snake handling?); they will be welcomed in for their sole quality of having been elsewhere rejected.

The explicit justification for change in policy is now based “on justice and pragmatic grounds” (774). The “justice” part is that though the ELCA claims not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, it still does so by requiring celibacy of homosexual clergy. Of course this begs the question of what discrimination means (does God discriminate against His creatures when He calls certain activities sin?).

But the more interesting point is the “pragmatic” one: “…many in the ELCA are unwilling to enforce the current policy of the ELCA, which prohibits such individuals from public ministry. Even if this church maintains its current policy, levels of ecclesial disobedience to this policy will likely increase” (781-783). Did you catch that? The folks behind DP2 are distressed at disobedience to the church!

Step one in addressing this disobedience is “truthfully acknowledging the change that has already occurred within the Body of Christ and working with this reality in the most faithful, responsible manner” (788-789). At the outset, this will mean not discipline for the disobedience, but sanctifying the disobedience by making it no longer disobedience: a lovely synedoche of the situation as a whole.

However, blessed disobedience will only be tolerated a short while, in the vision of DP2. The next step will be this: “The Churchwide Assembly will direct the ELCA Church Council, Vocation and Education program unit, Conference of Bishops, and Committee on Appeals to take all steps necessary to amend this church’s specific policies on ministry to be in accordance with this recommendation” (825-827). If you read between the lines, you will find—not the ecclesial federating of the main Recommendation, which lets everyone have their own way, preserving liberty of conscience at the cost of any meaningful unity in the church—but a new imposition of obedience on all parties. No one will be allowed to dissent, or their lack of “justice” and inclination to “discrimination” will be exposed and condemned. Obedience to the church will become mandatory.

This just goes to show the truth of the old rule—reach far enough to the left and you will end up on the right again.