wfn.org | ELCA to Act on New York Medical Center Consolidation

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 16, 1998

ELCA TO ACT ON NEW YORK MEDICAL CENTER CONSOLIDATION
98-CC2-08-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) authorized its executive committee to act on a
proposed consolidation of Lutheran Medical Center (LMC) and Maimonides
Medical Center (MMC), both of New York.
     "This action will expedite consideration of a proposal from Lutheran
Medical Center that would OK a new relationship," said the Rev. Charles S.
Miller, executive director of the ELCA's Division for Church in Society.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the
legislative authority of the church between meetings of the ELCA's
Churchwide Assembly.  The council met here Nov. 13-16.  Assemblies are held
every other year; the next is August 16-22 in Denver.
     LMC and MMC are negotiating to establish an "organic structural
relationship," according to the council resolution.
     "In today's environment for health care institutions, such alliances
and mergers among medical providers are common," said the council.
     A proposed agreement for the two institutions is being drafted and
will be reviewed by legal counsel and the staff of the Division for Church
in Society.  Approval of the agreement will be needed prior to the April
1999 meeting of the Church Council, so the council authorized its executive
committee to act on its behalf.
     LMC and MMC are not-for-profit medical institutions serving the
people of Brooklyn.  The ELCA is the sole voting member of the LMC.  It has
the right to elect the board of trustees and to approve LMC constitutional
amendments, and it retains property rights should LMC cease operations.

For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director (773) 380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html