• The purpose of the LGBTQ+ Accompaniment Team is to accompany congregations in their discernment of calling a rostered minister through dialogue, education, advocacy, and support in specifically considering the possibility of extending a call to LGBTQ+ candidates.
  • We recommend that this work happens during the interim period, well before the congregation's self-study begins, as the results of this process may have implications for the writing of certain parts of the congregation's "Ministry Site Profile (MSP)."  
  • The call committee, council, staff, and other interested members of the congregation are strongly encouraged to attend the first gathering with the Accompaniment Team and other follow-up meetings as needed or desired by the congregation.  
  • This process will honor the ELCA's commitment to respect its members' "bound conscience.” Congregations that have made a formal decision based on bound conscience that would preclude them from considering LGBTQ+ candidates may choose to opt-out of working with the Accompaniment Team. This process is designed for congregation leaders who believe their congregation could be open to calling a minister who happens to be LGBTQ+ and for congregations who are conscience-bound to be open to the gifts of all people whom God is calling into ministry.  
  • This process is designed for congregation leaders who believe their congregation could be open to calling a minister who happens to be LGBTQ+ and for the congregations who are conscience-bound to be open to the gifts of all people whom God is calling into ministry.
  • The congregation president and call committee chair reach out to the synod bishop to set up the gathering with the Accompaniment Team.