Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) is committed to the full participation of persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life and ministry of the Lutheran church.
Candidacy and Credentialing
Formed in 1993 as The Extraordinary Candidacy Project (ECP), the Candidacy and Credentialling Ellipse of ELM credentials openly gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender seminarians, candidates, ordained and commissioned ministers who are preparing for professional vocations in independent Lutheran parishes and congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Introduction
ELM is opposed to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) policy of mandated celibacy for sexual minority persons who seek ordination to Word and Sacrament ministry. In part, the Candidacy and Credentialling Ellipse (CCE) is a project of resistance to this policy, to its lack of consistent enforcement of the policy, and to its practice of encouraging intentional deception to avoid the ramifications of the policy. We understand the policy to be a fundamental violation of the createdness of all persons as sexual beings and of the sacredness of the primary relationships of all people.
ELM is more than resistance. It is a new way of being church in the world. If “ordinary” has come to mean “discriminatory,” we have chosen the adjective "extraordinary" to deliberately emphasize the "out-of-the-ordinary" nature of our project. The policies and procedures that follow are intended to affirm, implement, and support the "extraordinary" nature of our Project.
Purpose
ELM promotes the full participation of sexual minority persons in the professional life of the Lutheran church. We actively resist the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's exclusionary practices and discriminatory policies toward sexual minority pastors and candidates for ministry. We exist as a hopeful alternative and model for preparing candidates and certifying the credentials of sexual minority persons who are seeking to have their vocations affirmed and their committed relationships honored.
CCE works in cooperation with other ELM ellipses. ELM offers financial support, pastoral care and legal advice for sexual minority seminarians, pastors, AIMs, diaconal ministers and deaconesses who have refused to comply with the ELCA's celibacy rule and been credentialed by CCE and admitted to the ELM roster.
ELM also identifies and develops new ministry opportunities for approved ELM candidates, and works with Lutheran congregations who are willing to call ministers who are not on the ELCA’s roster.
The project maintains three regional candidacy panels (based in the Northeast, Minnesota, and California) and a national certification committee. The regional panels provide information, advice, and support for persons considering ELM candidacy and for ELM seminarians up through the endorsement decision. The national certification committee evaluates the qualifications of seminarians and other ministry candidates who have trained to serve on one of the professional rosters of the Lutheran church. The national committee also reviews the credentials of ordained clergy who have refused to comply with the ELCA's celibacy rule and been removed from the ELCA roster or threatened with discipline. ELM allows dual rostering with the ELCA so long as the candidate meets all of the CCE criteria.
Why the Candidacy and Credentialling Ellipse is needed?
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are called to the ministry of word and sacrament. Current ELCA policy places unconscionable obstacles in the way of such calls, through its policy requiring vows of life-long celibacy of lgbt pastors, AIMs, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers, and through its practice of inconsistently and capriciously enforcing this policy. As a result, well-qualified pastors and ministry candidates have been excluded from serving or have been forced to hide their identities or family relationships in order to fulfill their calling. Lgbt pastors whose gifts for ministry have otherwise been certified by the ELCA and confirmed by their congregations have been required to resign or have been removed by disciplinary action. Seminarians and other ministry candidates have had to change degree programs or withdraw from practical training courses. Even when congregations welcome sexual minority members, how welcome can they really feel when that same church does not allow lgbt persons to serve as ordained ministers and commissioned leaders?
Criteria and Qualifications
While modeling its criteria for ordination and commissioning on the ELCA’s candidacy process, the CCE established rigorous criteria for ordination and commissioning to most effectively prepare candidates for ministry. Our candidacy policies and procedures are based upon but not bound by the ELCA policies and procedures, and we will depart from the ELCA’s when they interfere with our mission. We look for the day when the ELCA will welcome us as full partners in ministry.
To the extent possible, the CCE also follows the evaluation process outlined in the ELCA Candidacy Manual. Each candidate's gifts and qualifications for ministry are thoroughly explored. Special attention is given to the candidate's preparedness for serving under extraordinary circumstances.
Seminary students interested in the CCE's process may apply independently or concurrently with their ELCA process. ELM seminarians may pursue their degrees at any accredited seminary in the United States, including all of the ELCA seminaries. Additionally, two ELCA seminaries have specifically agreed to intentionally work with ELM seminarians: Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (Berkeley, CA) and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA). Similar specific agreements with other seminaries are being explored.
The project maintains three regional candidacy panels (based in the Bay Area, Twin Cities and Philadelphia) and a National Certification Committee. The regional panels provide information, advice, and support for persons considering ELM candidacy and for ELM seminarians up through the endorsement decision. The National Certification Committee approves candidates for ordination at two committee meetings annually. The national committee also reviews comply with the ELCA's celibacy rule and been removed from the ELCA roster or threatened with discipline, and evaluates for transfer the qualifications of seminarians and other ministry candidates who have trained to serve on one of the professional rosters of the Lutheran church. ELM allows dual rostering. Candidates rostered with the ELCA may be rostered as well with ELM so long as the candidate meets all of the CCE criteria.
What does the Candidacy and Credentialling Ellipse do?
CCE provides a variety of services:
The project evaluates and certifies for ordination and/or call, qualified sexual minority pastors and candidates for ministry.
It is a trustworthy candidacy process for Lutheran seminary students who are denied access to the candidacy process of the ELCA solely because of their sexual orientation or refusal to comply with the ELCA's celibacy rule.
The CCE provides professional development, communal support, and mutual accountability for ministry by maintaining a public roster of pastors, lay ministers, and candidates available for ordination and/or call.
ELM roster
Currently, the ELM roster includes 35 ordained pastors and 9 persons approved for ordination and call and 2 seminarians. The roster also includes at least 5 seminarians. Members of the ELM roster serve in various roles across the United States as well as internationally in Canada and South Africa. An annual professional development retreat is held for all ELM pastors and candidates to foster mutual support and accountability. Throughout the year, members of the ELM roster offer pastoral care to those who may be interested in applying for ELM candidacy.
For more information about the The Candidacy and Credentialling Ellipse
If you would like to learn more about how ELM and the CCE might be of help to you, we encourage you to contact us. All inquiries are private. If you request more information, you will be put in touch with a person who can provide counsel and advice. You will not be pressured to make any decision you do not wish to make. Our task, should you contact us, is to be of assistance as you choose the path most appropriate for you.
For further information about the CCE please contact:
Grady Kase
955 N. California Ave.,
Palo Alto, CA 94303
e-mail: candidacy@elm.org
Candidacy and Credentialing Manual
(pdf, html)
Transfer/Dual Roster Forms
Pastors/Rostered Leaders
Candidacy Forms
Application Materials (pdf, doc)
Entrance
Endorsement
Approval
For further information about the CCE please contact:
Grady Kase
955 N. California Ave.,
Palo Alto, CA 94303
e-mail: candidacy@elm.org