wfn.org | ELCA Synods Conclude 2002 Assemblies

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 1, 2002

ELCA SYNODS CONCLUDE 2002 ASSEMBLIES
02-181-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Topics including health concerns, ethnic
discrimination, sexuality and debt retirement for seminary graduates
were among many topics addressed by voting members at synod assemblies
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) this summer.
     The actions were reported to the ELCA Department for Synodical
Relations, which maintains records from synod assemblies each year.
     The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop.
Most synods hold annual assemblies in which they elect leaders,
determine budgets and address topics of concern through resolutions or
through memorials -- specific requests directed to the ELCA churchwide
organization.  The ELCA churchwide organization sends representatives to
each synod assembly.
     ELCA synod assemblies for 2002 were held between April 6 and June
23.
     The Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod experienced the sudden
death of a synod officer at the assembly.  Stanley L. Greigg, vice
president for 11 years, suffered a fatal heart attack June 13 at Roanoke
College, an ELCA higher education institution in Salem, Va.  Greigg, 71,
was a former Democratic National Committee official.  The assembly
designated its Roanoke College Fund as the "Stanley L. Greigg
Scholarship Fund."
     Topics addressed by the synods included:
     + "Reconciling in Christ" designation: The Delaware-Maryland Synod
rescinded its declaration in 2000 to become a "Reconciling in Christ"
(RIC) synod. RIC is a program of Lutherans Concerned/North America
(LC/NA) that encourages churches to welcome people who are gay and
lesbian into the life of the congregation. The synod changed its
previous action to read "that this assembly urges all congregations of
the Delaware-Maryland Synod to welcome gay and lesbian people."  The
assembly instructed its secretary to inform LC/NA of the synod's action
and asked that it be removed from the list of RIC synods.
     The Alaska Synod assembly encouraged synod congregations to adopt
the RIC designation. When half of the synod's congregations adopt the
designation, the synod will consider whether it wishes to become an RIC
synod.
     + Called to Common Mission (CCM): CCM is a full-communion
agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, allowing for exchange of
ministries, and under certain circumstances, exchange of clergy. The
Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod defeated a resolution that called for
exceptions to ELCA ordination policies under CCM.
     The Central-Southern Illinois Synod assembly defeated two
resolutions related to CCM.  One called for modifications to a bylaw
adopted at the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly that allows for a candidate
for ordination to be ordained by a pastor other than a bishop.  The
second resolution called for clarification of a key ELCA resolution,
adopted by the ELCA Conference of Bishops (COB) and ELCA Church Council,
that offered some understandings about CCM.  The resolution is known as
the "Tucson Resolution," adopted in March 1999 by the COB in Tucson,
Ariz.
     + Gay/lesbian concerns: The South Dakota Synod adopted a
resolution asking the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to call upon each ELCA
congregation to ratify new policies regarding the blessing of same-
gender relationships and any change in policy regarding ordination of
people who are gay and lesbian in committed relationships.  Currently,
the church is engaged in a study of homosexuality, and any suggestions
for change in ELCA policy must be presented to the 2005 Churchwide
Assembly.  A task force and a study director are leading the study
process.
     The Central-Southern Illinois Synod defeated a resolution to
reaffirm "biblical standards" of the church and condemn homosexual
behavior.  The Northeastern Iowa Synod asked the ELCA for access to
information about the task force and study.
     + Health concerns: The Central-Southern Illinois Synod assembly
defeated a resolution that would have asked the ELCA Board of Pensions
for a "relief of conscience policy," allowing members and congregations
to opt out of the ELCA health plan based on "conscientious objections"
to funding for abortions.
     The Southeastern Iowa Synod assembly adopted a resolution asking
the ELCA "to advocate for change in Medicare coverage that would allow
for reimbursement for affordable, quality, non-discriminatory health
care for all Medicare-eligible patients without exception, regardless of
their place of residence."  It also requested members study resources
related to an upcoming ELCA proposed social statement on health care.
     + Responses to terrorism/violence: The Eastern Washington-Idaho
Synod assembly asked the United States to exercise restraint in
responding to terrorism threats, and it encouraged congregations to
engage in discussion of moral and ethical Christian responses to
terrorism and global violence.
     The Central States Synod assembly adopted two resolutions on this
topic.  In response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the U.S.
military response to the attacks, the assembly called for members to
seek to better understand "Islamic and Jewish neighbors" and to pray
"for an end to violence and for peace on earth."  It encouraged members
to study the ELCA social statement "For Peace in God's World."
     In a related action, the Metropolitan New York Synod assembly
called for support for military personnel and chaplains.
     + Middle East: The Upper Susquehanna Synod assembly encouraged
prayers for peace in the Middle East and called for an international
presence to establish and maintain peace in Gaza, Jerusalem and the West
Bank.
     The Delaware-Maryland Synod asked the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to
provide financial and other assistance to rebuild the infrastructure in
the West Bank and Gaza, assist refugees and provide for stability for
the Palestinians to "further peace and stability in the Holy Land."
     + Davey and Goliath: Two synods adopted resolutions expressing
concern about the church's use of Davey and Goliath in a commercial for
Mountain Dew, a popular soft drink.
Davey and Goliath were stars of a church-sponsored stop-motion animation
television series that promoted positive values and themes.  Recently
the ELCA began an effort to reintroduce the characters into popular
culture and to create new episodes.
     The Northeastern Iowa Synod asked the ELCA Church Council to
review the process which led to the decision to allow the characters to
appear in the Mountain Dew commercial.  It called for ELCA synod bishops
to be informed and the council to be involved in any future decisions
about the sale of "copyrighted properties or symbols of the ELCA."
     The Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod said the Mountain Dew
advertisement conflicted with Davey and Goliath's purpose.  The synod
assembly said "current and future plans involving Davey and Goliath
should not be compromised by delivering any message inconsistent with
the purpose and mission of the ELCA, and any production or
representation of Davey and Goliath that violates this purpose should
cease."  It forwarded its resolution to the Church Council for
"consideration and possible action."
     + Debts for seminarians: The Northeastern Minnesota Synod assembly
created a fund to reduce the seminary debts of new pastors.  The West
Virginia-Western Maryland Synod called on its congregations to commit
one Sunday to collect a special offering to benefits the synod's
"Rostered Leaders Debt Reduction" ministry.
     Other actions included:
     + The Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod assembly asked the ELCA to "conduct
a study of the variety of pastoral call processes used by the church and
to develop a churchwide handbook on the call process."
     + The Central-Southern Illinois Synod assembly adopted a plan to
encourage the use of "Fair Trade Coffee and Tea," a project promoted by
Lutheran World Relief.  The synod also adopted a resolution to pray for
the ELCA Evangelism Task Force and encourage evangelism work in the
synod.
     + The Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod assembly encouraged
members to pray for an end to a longstanding drought in the region.
     + The Upper Susquehanna Synod assembly offered support to a
Pennsylvania House bill that amends an Ethnic Intimidation Act, "to
continue to provide legal protection for violent crimes committed
against individuals because of actual or perceived: race, color,
religion or national origin." The bill would also amend the law to
include physical or mental disability, gender, sexual orientation,
identity and ancestry. In a separate action the synod assembly also
called for prayers for peace in the West African nation of Liberia.
     + The Southeastern Iowa Synod asked the 2003 Churchwide Assembly
to establish and fund a full-time churchwide staff position "that will
develop faith and science resources, especially for congregational use,
and represent faith and science concerns throughout the breadth of the
ELCA."
     + The Northwestern Minnesota Synod asked the ELCA Church Council
to consider  establishing a theological review process for governing
documents or actions ensuring they conform to Scriptures and the
confessions of the ELCA.
     + The East-Central Synod of Wisconsin called for a change in
election procedures for the presiding bishop and synod bishop.  The
resolutions asked for procedures that allow greater input into the
process by voting members, especially lay members.
     + The Metropolitan New York Synod asked the churchwide
organization to evaluate and update a 1992 ELCA strategy for responding
to sexual abuse in the church.
     + The Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod adopted a resolution
recommending law enforcement background checks and training for people
who work directly with youth.

BISHOPS' ELECTIONS
     Four new bishops were elected to six-year terms and a veteran
bishop was elected to a six-year term in another ELCA synod.  Newly
elected bishops are the Rev. Marie C. Jerge, Upstate New York Synod; the
Rev. Wilma S. Kucharek, Slovak Zion Synod; the Rev. David G. Mullen,
Sierra Pacific Synod; and the Rev. Paul W. Stumme-Diers, Greater
Milwaukee Synod.  The Rev. Peter Rogness, whose term as bishop of the
Greater Milwaukee Synod concludes this summer, was elected bishop of the
Saint Paul Area Synod.
     Re-elected to six-year terms as bishop were the Rev. Stephen P.
Bouman, Metropolitan New York Synod; the Rev. Duane C. Danielson,
Western North Dakota Synod; the Rev. David A. Donges, South Carolina
Synod; the Rev. Richard J. Foss, Eastern North Dakota Synod; the Rev.
Callon W. Holloway Jr., Southern Ohio Synod; the Rev. Philip L. Hougen,
Southeastern Iowa Synod; the Rev. April Ulring Larson, La Crosse Area
Synod; the Rev. David R. Strobel, Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod; the
Rev. Peter Strommen, Northeastern Minnesota Synod; and the Rev. Steven
L. Ullestad, Northeastern Iowa Synod.
-- -- --
Web sites of many ELCA synods can be found through the ELCA Department
of Synodical Relations at http://www.elca.org/sr on the Web.

A news release summarizing actions of earlier ELCA synod assemblies,
"Lutherans Express Variety of Concerns in Early Assemblies," was issued
June 24.  It can be found through http://www.elca.org/news.html on the
ELCA News Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html