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The ELCA Churchwide Assembly passed a proposed social statement on sexuality by the narrowest of margins, 676 (66.67 percent) to 338 (33.33 percent), Wednesday, Aug. 19. A two-thirds majority vote was necessary for approval.
The vote came after the uncomfortable sound of tornado sirens and about three hours of discussing and voting on amendments.
All in the assembly meeting room for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America were unharmed by the storm around 2 p.m. but a small tornado did hit the roof at the opposite end of the convention center, to the east of the churchwide assembly. The roof received some damage.
The tornado also twisted the steeple of Central Lutheran Church, a large Gothic appearing building just across from the convention center. The cross atop the steeple was bent down and left hanging. Several hospitality tents near the church were damaged or destroyed as well.
A supporter of the social statement typified the storm as a mighty wind of the Holy Spirit and as a positive message. Some WordAlone Network members heard a different message, a warning of God’s anger at the ELCA in the wind.
The social statement is a document that makes only suggestions about sex outside of marriage and co-habitation, and wonders if it is acceptable to refer to same-sex relationships as marriages. It comes out strongly against sexual exploitation, commercial sex, victimization of children and the weak and the sex saturated society.
The social statement is open on the issues around homosexual lifestyles and gives no directions on how Lutherans should view homosexual behavior but describes four differing views that denomination members supposedly hold towards homosexual behavior.
The storm near the Minneapolis Convention Center probably led local news reports Wednesday evening, not the votes of the day at the convention center.