Step Five: Working with the LGBTQ+ Accompaniment Team
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.
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