wfn.org | Later ELCA Assemblies Address Hunger, Stewardship, Sexuality

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 13, 2004

Later ELCA Assemblies Address Hunger, Stewardship, Sexuality
04-146-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Voting members attending synod assemblies of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in late spring and early
summer addressed a variety of churchwide and local concerns, speaking most
frequently in resolutions related to domestic and world hunger,
stewardship and funding, and the ELCA Studies on Sexuality.
     The 5-million-member ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by
a bishop.  Synod assemblies concluded June 27.
     The ELCA Department for Synodical Relations compiles assembly reports
from ELCA churchwide representatives.  The reports include resolutions and
memorials, which are resolutions addressed to the churchwide assembly.
The department had received nearly all of the reports by Aug. 2.
     Other topics addressed by the synods were marriage, term limits for
churchwide officers, lay presidency, Middle East concerns, gambling,
violence in schools, HIV/AIDS education and Lutheran-Jewish relations.

ELCA Hunger Appeal, Program Get Affirmations
     The Central States Synod assembly encouraged congregations to give at
least $6 per member to the Hunger Appeal and appoint a congregational
hunger advocate. The Northern Illinois Synod encouraged congregations to
increase giving to the appeal by 5 percent annually.  It also asked that
progress in World Hunger Appeal giving be reported to the synod assembly.
The Southwestern Washington Synod assembly adopted a goal to increase
world hunger gifts by 10 percent this year, and another 10 percent next
year.  The Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly encouraged congregations to
work toward a goal of $25 million in churchwide gifts to the World Hunger
Appeal.  (Total gifts to the appeal were $18 million in fiscal 2003.)  The
Lower Susquehanna Synod assembly established a goal of more than doubling
gifts to the Hunger Appeal.  The Nebraska Synod assembly encouraged
congregations to recruit 10 percent of their baptized members to
electronically transfer $10 per month to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal; it
also established a world hunger committee.
     The Southeastern Iowa Synod assembly called for action to end hunger
as "a core conviction" of the ELCA and directed its synod council to
forward the resolution to the ELCA Church Council for consideration in the
strategic planning process.  The Pacifica Synod encouraged congregations
to adopt the principle of "status confessionis," which means alleviation
of hunger as a matter of faith.  The resolution said the principle is "a
tactic in bringing an end to hunger in the world."  The Florida-Bahamas
Synod strengthened its commitment to the World Hunger Appeal in light of
the appeal's 30th anniversary this year.
     The Northern Great Lakes Synod assembly raised $10,000 in quarters
for hunger programs at its assembly; the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin
assembly raised $53,505 through June for hunger programs.

Synod Assemblies Address Giving, Stewardship
     The Greater Milwaukee Synod, which already leads all of the 65 synods
of the church in the percentage of mission-support funds it shares with
churchwide ministries, agreed to share 62 percent of its income with the
churchwide organization in fiscal 2005, an increase of 1 percent.
     The Rev. Paul Stumme-Diers, Greater Milwaukee synod bishop, said in
his report "this is a time to demonstrate leadership and counter
pessimism."  By increasing mission support, the assembly's action would be
"a sign that we are not captured by fear but are moving ahead in
confidence.  We have a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership."
     The Central States Synod assembly adopted a resolution with
stewardship suggestions for congregations and asked for development of a
plan to grow in "shared stewardship" through churchwide mission support.
Congregations of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod were encouraged to
make the "ministry of stewardship" a high priority and develop four-year
stewardship plans.
     The Northern Illinois Synod said it would seek $200,000 in gifts by
July 2005 to help congregations purchase property and build.  The ELCA
Mission Investment Fund agreed to put in $50,000 for the first $100,000
raised by the Northern Illinois Synod Capital Development Fund, the
resolution said.
     In the partnership with the ELCA Fund for Leaders in Mission, the
Northeastern Iowa Synod agreed to create a synod endowment fund to help
first-call pastors who come to the synod and have student loans to repay.
Congregations were encouraged to take up special offerings to help fund
the endowment.

Sexuality Studies Addressed by Many Assemblies
     Generally, resolutions and memorials addressing the studies
encouraged congregations to participate by using churchwide study
materials, called for the church to maintain present policies or asked
that the churchwide assembly adopt policy changes with a two-thirds vote
or seek congregational ratification of any changes.
     The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly mandated the study process in
preparation for decisions the 2005 assembly is to make on whether or not
people in committed homosexual relationships should be ordained and
whether or not the ELCA should develop a rite for blessing of committed
same-gender relationships.  In addition, a task force assigned to the
studies is to develop a proposed social statement on human sexuality for
the assembly to consider in 2007.
     Current ELCA policy expects professional ministers to refrain from
all sexual relations outside marriage.	The church has no official policy
on blessing same-gender relationships, but in 1993 the ELCA Conference of
Bishops stated it does not approve of such ceremonies.	The Conference of
Bishops is an advisory body of the church.
     The Northern Illinois Synod assembly encouraged congregations to
engage in the study process and declared that "the unity we share at the
font and around the table cannot be broken by our differing perspectives
on human sexuality."  The Northeastern Iowa Synod assembly and
Florida-Bahamas Synod adopted similar resolutions.
     The Allegheny Synod assembly asked the ELCA Church Council to adopt
churchwide assembly rules that would specify that a two-thirds vote would
be needed to adopt recommendations that may come from the studies' task
force.	The Upper Susquehanna Synod adopted a similar proposal on
recommendations that relate to ordination; it also asked for a delay on
adopting any policy changes related to ordination until after the social
statement is acted upon, expected in 2007.
     The South Carolina Synod assembly affirmed "current policy" of the
ELCA on ordination, and called for an increase in funds for a synod task
force to promote "inclusivity of all."
     Resolutions related to the sexuality studies failed at some
assemblies.  A proposal that the ELCA churchwide assembly receive the task
force report, "take no vote" and encourage more conversation on the issues
was defeated by the Minneapolis Area Synod assembly.  Proposals to
prohibit people who practice or promote homosexual behavior from being on
the ELCA clergy roster, and to stop discussion in the church on the issues
and reject ordination or consecration of gay or lesbian people in active
homosexual relationships were defeated at the Central States Synod
assembly.  And the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod assembly defeated a
proposal that affirmed current ELCA policy on same-gender relationships
and ordination standards, and a proposal that confirmed and upheld that
"the only sexual relationship acceptable to God is in the marriage of one
man and one woman."

Synod Assemblies Address Host of Churchwide, Local Matters
     + Marriage: In its 1996 "Message on Sexuality: Some Common
Convictions," the ELCA Church Council said "marriage is a lifelong
covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman."  The ELCA Studies on
Sexuality is expected to address whether the church should have a policy
on same-gender blessings.
     The Southwestern Minnesota Synod assembly called on the ELCA
Churchwide Assembly to affirm statements already in place on same-gender
blessings and marriage. It also asked that the churchwide assembly "adopt
no changes in its teaching or practice that contradict these principles."
The Southeastern Synod and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod assemblies
adopted resolutions affirming the ELCA's definition of marriage.  The
Northeastern Iowa Synod said the same, asked the churchwide assembly to
adopt the resolution and added that a change in the church's doctrine of
marriage would be "a grave error."
     + Middle East: The Minneapolis Area Synod assembly asked the
churchwide assembly to "express its solidarity with Christians and others
in the Holy Land who seek peace."  It encouraged members to pray, visit
the region and listen to those affected by the conflict.  The Metropolitan
Chicago Synod assembly expressed commitment to the ministry of Augusta
Victoria Hospital (AVH), a Lutheran World Federation facility in East
Jerusalem that serves Palestinian refugees.  It asked congregations to
designate an AVH Sunday and take up special offerings for the hospital and
its patients; it encouraged the synod bishop, pastors and lay leaders to
visit AVH in 2005, and asked the ELCA Church Council to encourage
financial support throughout the ELCA for the hospital.
     + Ratification of churchwide assembly actions: The Southwestern
Minnesota Synod asked the churchwide assembly to seek ratification of
amendments to the ELCA Constitution by three-fourths of ELCA synods at
assemblies or a majority of congregations within one calendar year of
final approval by the churchwide assembly.
     + Church Council representation: The Southwestern Minnesota Synod
assembly asked the churchwide assembly to amend the ELCA Constitution to
provide "for the direct election of church council members by individual
synods."  The council should consist of the four churchwide officers and
65 others elected by synod assemblies, the resolution said.
     + Historic episcopate: The Southwestern Minnesota Synod assembly
urged adoption of churchwide constitutional amendments that "will freely
permit" candidates for ordination and bishops to be ordained or installed
"without the participation of bishops in Episcopal succession," and that
these options have equal standing in the ELCA.	 It also asked the ELCA
Churchwide Assembly to make "no distinction" in church records for those
whose ordinations or installations do not include bishops in Episcopal
succession, and it asked ELCA bishops to honor an "exceptions" bylaw that
makes ordination possible for a candidate who does not wish to be part of
the historic episcopate under certain and specific circumstances.
     + Term limits: The Northeastern Minnesota synod adopted a resolution
asking the churchwide assembly to establish two-term limits for the
churchwide officers.  The officers are the presiding bishop, secretary,
vice president and treasurer, each elected to six-year terms.  All are
elected by the churchwide assembly except the treasurer, who is elected by
the ELCA Church Council.
     + Lay presidency: The Southwestern Minnesota Synod adopted a
resolution encouraging the ELCA Division for Ministry to recommend
revisions to the ELCA Constitution to provide congregations "with the
authority to train and appoint lay people to preside at Holy Communion
when an ordained pastor is not available."
     + New congregations: The Southwestern Washington Synod assembly asked
the churchwide assembly to consider a methodology for new mission starts
that reflects "the challenges of today's mission field."  It also asked
the church and faculties at ELCA colleges, universities and seminaries to
engage in a study process related to a biblical approach to starting
mission congregations.
     + HIV/AIDS education: The Southeastern Synod assembly asked the
churchwide assembly to initiate a churchwide effort to encourage HIV/AIDS
education and prevention in congregations and communicate with social
service organizations the value of coordinating HIV/AIDS education efforts
with local interfaith AIDS networks.   The resolution also asked the
church to advocate for government to care for people living with AIDS and
to educate people about how to prevent HIV infections.
     + Gambling: The Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod and Lower Susquehanna
Synod assemblies adopted similar resolutions opposing attempts by the
Pennsylvania General Assembly to bring slot machine gambling to the state.
Both asked that their actions be reported to elected officials and said
they supported "fair, progressive, long- lasting tax reform in the
Commonwealth that will provide responsibly for programmatic needs."
     + Support for military chaplains: The South Carolina Synod assembly
asked the ELCA to develop guidelines for the church focusing on the status
of clergy, financial considerations and pastoral ministry during military
deployment.
     + Bioethical research: The Northeastern Iowa Synod assembly asked the
ELCA to develop a social statement that addresses the "theological,
ethical, public and pastoral issues surrounding genetic research and
therapy."
     + Faith and coercion: The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod assembly
adopted a resolution denouncing behavior "intended to coerce or force
anyone to profess a faith in Jesus Christ or ask them to renounce their
faith."  The action was in response to news reports about Iraqi prisoners
in United States custody who were forced to denounce Islam or engage in
behavior contrary to Islam.
     + Welcoming: The Metropolitan Chicago Synod assembly adopted a
resolution recognizing a 2005 "Grow for Jesus" emphasis in the African
American Lutheran community and said the synod would "pray for this effort
and welcome African Americans into our congregations."
     + Violence in schools: The Northern Illinois Synod assembly asked the
ELCA to study school violence, "especially name-calling, bullying and
intimidation."	It asked the churchwide organization to assemble resources
on the subject and that congregations consider setting aside one Sunday a
year to emphasize "care and respect for all God's children."
     + Evangelism: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod assembly adopted a
resolution committing its congregations to a two-year evangelism
initiative.
     + Lutheran-Jewish relations: The Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod
assembly congratulated the Jewish community on the 350th anniversary of
the arrival of the Jews in North America and reaffirmed a commitment to
continue mutual understanding among Jews and Christians. It specifically
mentioned the work of the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding at
Muhlenberg College, an ELCA higher education institution in Allentown, Pa.
It asked the churchwide assembly to recognize and honor the Jewish
community for its 350 years of "life, work, civic involvement and
faithfulness in North America."
---
     For a report on other synod assemblies in 2004, please see "Early
ELCA Synod Assemblies Address Sexuality, Other Issues" issued June 30.	It
is at http://www.elca.org/scriptlib/CO/ELCA_News/encArticleList.asp
on the ELCA Web site.

     Information about the ELCA's 65 synods is available through the ELCA
Department for Synodical Relations http://www.elca.org/sr on the ELCA Web
site.

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