Resolutions for Business Session #2: #2, #3, #4, #5

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