wfn.org | ELCA Bishops Hear Presiding Bishop's 'Hope' for the Church

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 15, 2004

ELCA Bishops Hear Presiding Bishop's 'Hope' for the Church
04-039-JB

     WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), said the ELCA is not "a church is that is troubled or in
trouble" but a church in which he sees much hope.
     Hanson made the comment in his report to the ELCA Conference
of Bishops, which met here March 4-9.  The ELCA is organized into
65 synods, each headed by a bishop. The ELCA Conference of
Bishops is an advisory body of the church, consisting of the
church's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary.
     Hanson began his report by asking, "Is the ELCA a troubled
church or a church in trouble?"  He said he wondered about
"losing the center of this church" as the ELCA is headed toward
votes at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly that "are a heavy
weight on us."	Hanson referred to planned votes on policies
related to homosexuality that are to be presented to the assembly
that year.
     "With all the realities we are facing, we are in fact an
'alive' church -- a church that daily dies and is daily lifted up
in Christ," he said.
     The 2005 Churchwide Assembly is to consider a report and
recommendations on two policy questions:  Should the church
ordain people who are gay and lesbian and living in a committed
homosexual relationship?  Should the church have a policy on
blessings of same-gender relationships?  Under present policy,
pastors who are single are expected to refrain from sexual
relationships.	The church does not have a policy on blessing
same-gender relationships, although the Conference of Bishops
does not encourage such blessings.
     ELCA congregations have been encouraged to study the issues
using materials, which a task force for the ELCA Studies on
Sexuality provided, and to report the results of their work to
the task force by late October.
     "There is a little bit of lessening of anxieties about the
sexuality studies and increasing participation," Hanson said.
He added that the present public debate over same-sex "marriages"
isn't all bad because it gives the church a chance to speak to
society.
     At the same time, Hanson said he hoped congregations and
members will see and discuss Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of
the Christ."  "Let's not miss the moment that has been given to
us in a society that has been reawakened by 'The Passion of the
Christ'," Hanson said.	The ELCA has posted several resources
related to the film at http://www.elca.org/co/culture/ on the
Web.
     A portion of Hanson's report was devoted to an extensive
planning process that includes possible changes in the church's
structure, governance and spending, and which is being directed
by the ELCA Church Council and the Office of the Presiding
Bishop. At its November 2004 meeting the council is expected to
receive proposals about the church's structure, governance and
spending.
     As with other groups throughout the church this spring, the
bishops discussed planning issues in small groups and reported
their observations in writing to the presiding bishop's office.
 The Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration and
executive assistant to the presiding bishop, said churchwide
staff regarded the discussions "as a critical and urgent
conversation."
     "The options are that we will either have a relationship
defined strategically and in a mutually supportive way, or we
will have a relationship that is not strategic but haphazard,
unfocused and uninformed," he said.  Some of the planning
proposals will require action by the churchwide assembly, Miller
said.
     The bishops discussed the ELCA's role as a public church,
its role in deepening and extending global, ecumenical and
interfaith relationships and its role in developing professional
leaders.  The bishops commented on the role of the ELCA
churchwide organization in supporting congregations and
evangelical outreach; and they reflected on whether or not the
churchwide organization "could adequately do all the work it
needs to do for the ELCA as a whole, even if it [the
organization] was considerably smaller (e.g., two-thirds of its
current size)."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news