CORE taking a discernment year

Gathering Sept. 25-26 in Fishers, Ind., Lutheran CORE changed its name from a "coalition for reform" to a "coalition for renewal" and approved a constitution as a "freestanding synod" unaffiliated with the ELCA . CORE — which broke ties with the ELCA after the August 2009 Churchwide Assembly's votes on sexuality — will take a year to plan its future.

The 1,200 participants at the CORE meeting came from 41 states and three Canadian provinces, with more than half from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Three-quarters were laity.

Speakers and participants responded to the 2009 assembly's adoption of a social statement on human sexuality and to changes that would allow ELCA congregations — if they choose to do so — to bless committed gay and lesbian relationships and call ministers from the ELCA roster who are in such relationships.