Resolution #2: Memorial in Support of Legislation Prohibiting Employment
Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod Assembly 2013
Resolution 2
Memorial in Support of Legislation Prohibiting Employment Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
Whereas, it is currently legal in 29 states to discriminate in the
workplace on the basis of sexual orientation, and in on the basis of
gender identity; and
Whereas, employees should be judged on the quality of their work and nothing more; and
Whereas, legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination on
the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity
while providing for a broad religious exemption, has been introduced in
every Congress since 1994; and
Whereas, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 1397/S. 812) is an example of such legislation;
Whereas, the ELCA’s Social Statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust
states that “While Lutherans hold various convictions regarding
lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships, this church is united
on many critical issues” (p. 19). This church: 1) “supports legislation
and policies to protect civil rights and to prohibit discrimination in
16 housing, employment, and public services.” (p. 19) 2) “has called
upon congregations and members of this church to welcome, care for, and
support same-gender couples and their families and to advocate for their
legal protection.” (p. 19) 3) “will advocate for public policies that
support and protect families.” (p. 24) 4) “will attend to the need for
equal protection, equal opportunities, and equal responsibilities under
the law, and just treatment for those with varied sexual orientation and
gender identity. Such individuals are disproportionately and negatively
affected by patterns of stigma, discrimination, and abuse.”
Whereas, the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly passed a memorial by
approximately an 80% majority to endorse the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act and to affirm advocacy “in support of laws
barring discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual
orientation” (see CWA resolution CA97.06.29)
RESOLVED, that the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod, meeting in Assembly,
memorialize the 32 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to call upon Congress
to take up and pass legislation that would prohibit employment
discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or
gender identity while providing for religious exemptions; and be it
further
RESOLVED, that the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod, meeting in Assembly,
memorialize the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, to urge the Presiding
Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, synodical bishops,
clergy, and other church leaders to speak publicly in support of
legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis
of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity while
providing for religious exemptions; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod, meeting in Assembly,
memorialize the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to urge lay leaders to
make this Assembly’s position and the ELCA’s position known to their
Members of Congress in the United States House of Representatives and
United States Senate.
Respectfully submitted by:
Mary Lauver – Trinity Lutheran Church, Pullman, WA
Pastor Wesley Howell, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pullman, WA
Pastor Roger Pettenger, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pullman, WA
Annette Pettenger, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pullman, WA
Resolution #3: Memorial in Support of the Uniting American Families Act
Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod Assembly 2013
Resolution 3
Memorial in Support of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA)
Whereas, under current U.S. immigration law, a U.S. citizen or legal
permanent resident is permitted to sponsor his or her spouse, child, or
parent for permanent resident status; and
Whereas, U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are not permitted
to sponsor their same-gender partners for permanent resident status; and
Whereas, twenty-five other countries allow their citizens to sponsor their same-gender partners in the immigration process; and
Whereas, there are approximately 36,000 bi-national, same-gender families in the U.S.; and
Whereas, 35% of male bi-national couples and 39% of female bi-national couples are raising more than 17,000 children; and
Whereas, due to the inability of U.S. citizens and legal permanent
residents to sponsor their same-gender partners, they can be forced to
live abroad, thus uprooting their children, disrupting their careers,
and breaking ties with their families, communities, and places of
worship; and
Whereas, current immigration law does not provide for equal justice and
equal protection for gay and lesbian citizens and legal permanent
residents; and
Whereas, the ELCA has a long-standing commitment to calling for comprehensive federal immigration reform; and
Whereas, a bill called the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) has been
introduced in the Federal legislature to amend the Immigration and
Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in immigration by permitting
permanent partners of United States citizens and of lawful permanent
residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner
as spouses of citizens and of lawful permanent residents and to penalize
immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, that the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod in Assembly,
memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to call upon President
Obama and elected officials in Congress to support and to press for
passage of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) or its equivalent as
a component of comprehensive immigration reform; and be it further
RESOLVED, that if a bill for comprehensive immigration reform is passed
before the start of the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, and if the bill
does not include UAFA or its equivalent, the Eastern Washington-Idaho
Synod, meeting in assembly, memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly to call for the reintroduction of UAFA in the U.S. legislature;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod, meeting in assembly,
memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to commend
Bishop Thomas M. Aitken, Northeastern Minnesota Synod,
Bishop James A. Arends, La Crosse Area Synod,
Bishop David H. Brauer-Rieke, Oregon Synod,
Bishop Bruce H. Burnside, South-Central Synod of Wisconsin,
Bishop Jessica R. Crist, Montana Synod,
Bishop H. Julian Gordy, Southeastern Synod ,
Bishop Richard H. Graham, Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod,
Bishop Wolfgang D. Herz-Lane, Delaware-Maryland Synod,
Bishop Mark W. Holmerud, Sierra Pacific Synod,
Bishop Felipe Lozada-Montañez, Caribbean Synod,
Bishop Dean W. Nelson, Southwest California Synod,
Bishop Margaret Payne, New England Synod,
Bishop Robert A. Rimbo, Metropolitan New York Synod,
Bishop Michael Rinehart, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod,
Bishop Stephen S. Talmage, Grand Canyon Synod, and
Bishop Martin D. Wells, Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod
for their courageous witness and their stand for justice in adding their
names to the Faith 62 Coalition for UAFA (1); and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod, meeting in assembly,
memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to encourage the clergy
and other leaders of congregations in this church to support the Uniting
American Families Act by communicating with their elected
representatives, encouraging them to co-sponsor and to support a just,
comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration law that includes the
principles of UAFA. (1)
http://immigrationequalityactionfund.org/images/FaithCoalition_SignOnLetter.pdf
Respectfully submitted by:
Mary Lauver, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pullman, WA
Pastor Wesley Howell, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pullman, WA
Pastor Roger Pettenger, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pullman, WA
Annette Pettenger, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pullman, WA
Resolution #4: Support Clergy and Staff Safety
Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod Assembly 2013
Resolution 4
Memorial to Support Clergy and Staff Safety
Whereas, Matthew 25:35-36 states “I was hungry and you gave me something
to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a
stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I
was sick and you looked after me, and
Whereas, we serve in response to God’s love to meet human needs, caring
for the sick and aged, advocating dignity and justice for all people,
standing with the poor and powerless, and committing ourselves to the
needs, and
Whereas, those who serve as employees and volunteers in congregations
and various other ministry settings, seek to live out the calling to
serve our communities and are often in ministry sites alone and provide
response and care for those to whom the church seeks to serve, whether
urban, rural, small or large communities, and
Whereas, vulnerable populations often seek refuge and help at ministry
sites and staff often are alone and vulnerable to dangerous and
precarious situations in order to provide care and assist the church in
carrying out its calling;
Resolve, that this assembly encourage called and lay leaders who have
oversight of staff in a variety of ministry settings, provide adequate
safety measures for those who serve and carry out ministries on behalf
of the church.
Submitted by:
Stephanie Tesch, Synod Council Member representing Cluster G
Ken Tesch, President of Cluster G
Cathy Steiner, Synod Staff, Member of Lutheran Staff Association
Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod Assembly 2013
Resolution 5
Resolution to Amend the EWA-ID Synod Constitution
Whereas, the 2011 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America adopted amendments to the Model Constitution for Synods
and,
Whereas, the required provisions took effect 30 days after
their adoption by the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America and,
Whereas, recommended provisions require adoption by the Synod
Assembly and,
Whereas, the Synod Council of the Eastern Washington Idaho
Synod approved the following amendments therefore be it,
RESOLVED to amend the constitution of the Eastern Washington
Idaho Synod as follows;
S7.12. Special meetings of the Synod Assembly may be called
by the bishop with the consent of the Synod Council, and shall be called by the
bishop at the request of one-fifth of the voting members of the Synod Assembly.
a.
The notice of each special meeting shall define the purpose for which it is to
be held. The scope of actions to be taken at such a special meeting shall be
limited to the subject matter(s) described in the notice.
b.
If the special meeting of the Synod Assembly is required for the purpose of
electing a successor bishop because of death, resignation, or inability to
serve, the special meeting shall be called by the Synod Council after
consultation with the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America.
S8.23. In the event of the death, resignation, or disability of the bishop,
the vice president, after consultation with the presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, shall convene the Synod Council to
arrange for the conduct of the duties of the bishop until a new bishop shall be
elected or, in the case of temporary disability, until the bishop resumes full
performance of the duties of the office.
S8.52. The terms of the officers shall begin on the first day
of the third month following election or, in special circumstances, at a time
designated by the Synod Council.
S10.06. If a member of the Synod Council ceases to meet the
requirements of the position to which she or he was elected, the office filled
by such member shall at once become vacant.
S10.07.01 To the extent permitted by state law, an action required or permitted
to be taken at a meeting of the Synod Council and its committees may be taken
electronically or by telephone conference.
Submitted
by Paula Kenney, Secretary EWAID Synod Council
April
18, 2013
Advent
Lutheran Church
Spokane
Valley, WA
