June 15, 2007

Summary of synod assembly results confirmed as of June 14, 2007

With 7 synods still to meet, here are the results so far.

58 synod assemblies have met. Of these:

• 38 considered memorials, either from Goodsoil, WordAlone / LC3, or both.
• 3 considered resolutions, but not memorials.
• 12 are confirmed not to have considered either resolutions or memorials.
• 5 are unknown as to whether or not they considered any resolutions or memorials.

Of the 41 that considered memorials or resolutions:

• 23 have called for full or fuller inclusion.
• 10 have called for continuation of the current policy of preclusion.

Of the 38 that considered memorials:

• 27 considered only Goodsoil memorials.
• 7 considered both Goodsoil memorials and WordAlone / LC3 memorials / resolutions (N TX-N LA, L Susq, NE PA, and NE IA with memorials; NW OH, SW MN, and Gr Canyon with resolutions).
• 4 considered only WordAlone memorials (E ND, SD, Allegheny, and VA).

Results in brief

• 58 synod assemblies have met so far. We have confirmed that 41 of these took action regarding ministers in a committed same-gender partnership. Of these 41, 23 have called for full inclusion, while only 10 have called for continuation of the current policy of preclusion. Seven synod assemblies remain (through June 24).
• 21 synods have asked that ELCA policies be amended to permit the rostered service of persons in a committed same-gender partnership: 20 of these synods passed Goodsoil Memorial 1 this year (out of 31 where it was considered), while 1 synod had passed a similar memorial in 2006.
• Memorial 2 (encouraging refraining from discipline) has been PASSED by 11 of the 17 synods that considered it.
• Memorial 3 (endorsing restraint in discipline) has been PASSED by 9 of the 18 synods that considered it.
• A memorial to delay any action until at least 2009 has been PASSED by 8 synods.
• A memorial against blessing same-gender partnerships has been PASSED by 2 synods.

In detail

MEMORIAL 1 – PASSED BY TWENTY SYNODS: Sierra Pacific; South/Central Wisconsin; Southeastern Pennsylvania; Northeastern Minnesota; Rocky Mountain; Metro New York; Southwestern Washington; Oregon; Southwest California; Minneapolis Area; Saint Paul Area; New Jersey; Northwest Washington; Greater Milwaukee; Upstate New York; New England; Northeastern Pennsylvania; Metropolitan Chicago; Southeastern Iowa; and Grand Canyon. (Metro DC had already passed, in 2006, a memorial for D&G and V&E to be amended.)

MEMORIAL 1 – DEFEATED BY TEN SYNODS: Eastern Washington-Idaho; Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana; Northwestern Ohio; Southwestern Texas; Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast; Southern Ohio (combined with Mems. 2 and 3); Southeastern; Metro DC (postponed indefinitely); Lower Susquehanna; and Northeastern Iowa. (Montana Synod tabled but did not defeat Mem. 1).

MEMORIAL 2 – PASSED BY ELEVEN SYNODS: Rocky Mountain; Oregon; Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast; Northwest Washington; New Jersey; Minneapolis Area; Saint Paul Area; New England; Northeastern Pennsylvania; Metro DC; and Southeastern Iowa.

MEMORIAL 2 – DEFEATED BY FIVE SYNODS: Southeastern Pennsylvania; Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana (combined with Mem. 3); Metro New York; Southwestern Texas; and Northeastern Iowa. (Montana Synod tabled but did not defeat Mem. 2. Southern Ohio defeated a hybrid version of Mem. 1 that included Mem. 2, counted above.)

MEMORIAL 3 – PASSED BY NINE SYNODS: Southeastern Michigan (variant form); Rocky Mountain; Oregon; New Jersey; Northwest Washington; New England; Metro DC; Southeast Iowa; and Grand Canyon.

MEMORIAL 3 – DEFEATED BY EIGHT SYNODS: Southeastern Pennsylvania; Eastern Washington-Idaho; Florida-Bahamas; Metro New York (postponed indefinitely); Southwestern Texas; North Carolina; Northeastern Pennsylvania (postponed indefinitely); and Northeastern Iowa. (Montana Synod tabled but did not defeat Mem. 3. Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana and Southern Ohio both defeated hybrid versions that included Mem. 3, which are counted above.)

MEMORIAL TO DELAY ACTION UNTIL AT LEAST 2009 – PASSED BY EIGHT SYNODS: Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana; Eastern North Dakota; North Carolina; South Dakota; Allegheny; Northeastern Iowa; Northeastern Pennsylvania; and Virginia. (Northwestern Ohio and Grand Canyon passed "delay" only as a synodical resolution, not a memorial to the Churchwide Assembly.)

MEMORIAL AGAINST BLESSING SAME-GENDER PARTNERSHIPS – PASSED BY TWO SYNODS: Eastern North Dakota and Lower Susquehanna. (Southwestern Minnesota, Northwestern Ohio, and Northeastern Iowa passed synodical resolutions against blessing unions, but not memorials to the Churchwide Assembly).

DID NOT CONSIDER MEMORIALS TO CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY – AT LEAST FIFTEEN SYNODS: Arkansas-Oklahoma; Western Iowa; Southwestern Minnesota; Pacifica; Northern Great Lakes; North / West Lower Michigan; Central States; Nebraska; Northwest Wisconsin; East-Central Wisconsin; La Crosse Area; Southeastern Minnesota; Northwestern Minnesota; Alaska; and Central / Southern Illinois.