Lutheran Bishop David Zellmer said that his attendance at a meeting of the Lutheran Coalition for Renewal, or Lutheran CORE,  in Watertown earlier this week should not be interpreted as a lack of support for the South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that he leads.

“Since there may have been some confusion, it’s important that I make clear that my attendance …was strictly for my own education. It should not be viewed as anything other than my wanting to know firsthand what was and was not being said,” Zellmer wrote on his synod blog Friday.

Lutheran CORE is a group that disagrees with the ELCA Churchwide Assembly’s decision in August to change traditional church teaching on marriage and sexuality and to allow homosexual pastors to be in same-sex relationships.

The Rev. David Baer, a Lutheran pastor from Whitewood who serves on CORE’s national leadership team, said the formation of a South Dakota CORE group was announced at the Nov. 10 meeting in Watertown, which drew more than 300 people, far more than expected.

That group will work to try to get the South Dakota Synod Assembly, which will meet next June in Rapid City, “to uphold biblical teaching on marriage and sexual behavior within the South Dakota Synod,” Baer said. There is debate among ELCA leadership on whether or not synods can do that, but several are considering it, he said.

“It is unclear whether the ELCA will allow synods to maintain traditional teaching and ministry standards. The proposals that are being released by the ELCA churchwide organization say that no synod will be allowed to uphold traditional standards for pastors as a synod,” Baer said.

The South Dakota synod has approved several resolutions in recent years upholding biblical teaching on sexuality, and it voted to ask the national assembly to reject the social statement and changes to ministry standards that were approved in August.

“Many Lutherans in South Dakota are waiting to see if our synod will be able to uphold biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality. If we are able to uphold biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality as a synod, it may be possible for individuals and congregations to remain in the South Dakota Synod even if they are in opposition to the ELCA actions,” Baer said.

Some Lutherans in South Dakota are considering leaving the ELCA, and others would like to find a way to remain part of the state synod while ending their affiliation with the ELCA nationally, he said.

As for Zellmer, he said he’s committed to the ELCA.

“I remain enthusiastic about our shared mission and ministry in this synod and church.”