wfn.org | ELCA Council, Bishops Discuss Assembly, Concerns

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 17, 1999

ELCA COUNCIL, BISHOPS DISCUSS ASSEMBLY, CONCERNS FOLLOWING KEY VOTE
99-CWA-04-JB

     DENVER (ELCA)   In a preview of this week's churchwide assembly of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. H. George
Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, said the vote on a Lutheran
proposal for full communion with The Episcopal Church "is not the whole
show."
     Anderson discussed several assembly issues and led a brief
discussion here Aug. 15 on pastoral care concerns related to the
Lutheran-Episcopal proposal, known as "Called to Common Mission" (CCM).
He made his remarks at a joint session of the ELCA Church Council and
ELCA Conference of Bishops.
     "I have a great deal of confidence that we can tackle tough
issues, discuss them, and in the end we will come out with a good
product," Anderson said of CCM. "I believe God will show us a way
through.  We should not look with fear or anxiety on the days ahead."
     CCM's approval would open the door for greater cooperation between
the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, including exchange of clergy.
Episcopalians bring to the relationship the "historic episcopate," a
succession of bishops as a sign of unity back to the earliest days of
the Christian church.  If CCM is approved by more than two-thirds of
assembly voting members, the ELCA will adopt the historic episcopate, a
requirement that has generated controversy and opposition in the ELCA.
     If the assembly agenda remains as proposed, the vote will occur on
Thursday morning, Aug. 19.  After the vote there will be a prayer and a
short break to allow assembly participants to talk and discuss their
reactions to the vote.  Anderson said he will reconvene the
participants, offer brief remarks and recess the assembly until Friday
morning.
     Voting members may also choose to consider further action on the
issue after the vote, Anderson added.
     "I hope all of us can keep a broad perspective," Anderson said.
"This decision should not be the only defining vote in the Lutheran
church."
     Ida Marie Hakkarinen, ELCA Church Council member, Greenbelt, Md.,
said the church's leaders can set an example for other church leaders in
how they conduct themselves during the CCM discussions.  Hakkarinen also
said it would be appropriate for Anderson to call for prayers "anytime."
     The Rev. Larry V. Smoose, ELCA Church Council member, Media, Pa.,
said the CCM discussions should be kept "at a high level."
     Concerns and prayer will most likely be shared among synod voting
members, said the Rev. Guy S. Edmiston, bishop of ELCA Lower Susquehanna
Synod.  Many synods have already had such discussions, Edmiston added.
     It's important to remember that the audience watching the CCM vote
"is the rest of the body of Christ, not just us," said the Rev. Stephen
P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod.
     In addition to CCM, Anderson said the assembly will have an
opportunity to enter into full communion with the Moravian Church in
America, which he called "a pre-Reformation church."
     A proposed social statement on economic life, "Sufficient,
Sustainable Livelihood for All," will be considered by the assembly.  If
approved, the statement will be an "important first step" for the church
to help people deal with the complexities of the global economy,
Anderson said.   The social statement will help the church in its
ministry with poor people, he said, adding that the ELCA already
committed $3 million for ministry with the poor in "second mile" funds
this year.
     The ELCA World Hunger Appeal, which is about $500,000 ahead of its
1999 fundraising goal of $12.6 million, will be a focus of the assembly.
"Jubilee 2000," an international effort aimed at reducing debts held by
the governments of the world's poorest countries will also be a focus,
Anderson said.
     The assembly will hear a progress report on outreach to gay and
lesbian people.  The report calls for no assembly action, but Anderson
said he expects some people may ask the assembly to "make decisions."
     Anderson recognized the work of the Rev. Edgar R. Trexler,
longtime editor of The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA.  Trexler, who
will retire this year, shaped the magazine into "a unique publication
among denominations today," Anderson said.  The assembly will vote on
the nomination of the Rev. David L. Miller to become editor Nov. 1.
Miller is presently senior editor of the magazine.
     Anderson asked council members and bishops to help interpret some
fundraising initiatives which may cause confusion among church members.
Among the examples he mentioned are proposals to double giving to the
ELCA World Hunger Appeal, the "Vision for Mission" appeal for additional
giving and a plan by the Lutheran World Federation to launch an
endowment drive.

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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