Learn and Discern: Understanding Our Church’s Teaching on Sexuality

This week, the Grand Canyon Synod begins a five-week exploration of Learn and Discern, an ELCA podcast accompanying the reconsideration of Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. We invite you to begin with “ELCA Social Teaching on Sexuality, Then and Now”, available to listen to anytime. Listening time: 33 minutes.

Host Mitch McCartney speaks with Dr. Roger Willer, recently retired ELCA director of theological ethics, about the history of the church’s teaching on sexuality, marriage, and same-gender relationships—and its relationship to ministry policy.

These questions touch Scripture, conscience, family, and belonging. Some among us welcome reconsideration; others feel troubled or wonder whether they can remain in this church. Those concerns deserve patient attention. LGBTQ+ members and their families also bring experiences and questions that deserve to be heard with care.

Learning together offers a place to begin. The ELCA completed one phase of reconsideration in 2025; the current phase examines the statement’s four positions of “bound conscience.” Read about the process.

This week’s invitation: Listen, then name one question you would like to explore with a pastor, trusted friend, or small group. Pair the episode with the ELCA’s Conscience and Conversation study.

Next week, we explore Lutheran ethics: how faith shapes our decisions and care for our neighbors. Find all five episodes here.