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At the 2004 Eastern Synod Assembly in June, the following motion was passed:

That the Eastern Synod petition the National Church Council to initiate a study of the theological, ecclesiological, and pastoral implications of authorizing a parish-based local option to perform same-sex blessings and bring appropriate recommendations to the 2005 National Convention.

A September 28, 2004 news release from the National Office of the ELCIC outlined the National Church Council's plans for responding to this petition from Eastern Synod. The proposed strategy was to solicit some "made-in-Canada resources" - resources which "will honour the many voices the National Bishop has heard across the church". The National Church Council approved a project wherein scholars from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada were to be invited to write short essays on various aspects of the issues as might be understood or implied in the Eastern Synod motion. These essays are intended to inform the work of the National Church Council to bring a recommendation regarding the Eastern Synod motion to the 2005 ELCIC National Convention. It was also decided to make the essays available on the ELCIC's web site as a basis for conference or congregational study this coming winter and spring (2004/2005).

Several of the 22 planned essays have been posted at the ELCIC web site: http://www.elcic.ca/docs/2005/essays.html

As soon as the other essays are completed, edited and formatted, they will be posted to the web.

The recent ELCIC notice concludes that, "In this way, members of the ELCIC will have access to the very best in scholarship and pastoral wisdom in twenty-two papers offered by twenty-four ELCIC scholars".

The National Church Council has recently announced that they are making allowance for "additional contributions" to their Same-Sex Blessing essay project according to guidelines specified at a special page for such contributions.