wfn.org | ELCA Council Committee Releases Churchwide Governance Draft

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 26, 2004

ELCA Council Committee Releases Churchwide Governance Draft
04-157-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The executive committee of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) Church Council released a draft Aug. 25 of a
proposal for governance of the ELCA churchwide organization.  The
suggestions aim to "strengthen this church for mission," according to the
draft proposal.
     In a separate release on the same day, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA
presiding bishop, released a draft of a restructuring plan designed to
align the churchwide organization with the ELCA Plan for Mission, endorsed
by the 2003 Churchwide Assembly.  Copies of both proposals are at
http://www.elca.org/planning on the ELCA Web site.
     The executive committee asked for responses to the governance draft
by Oct. 4, 2004.  Responses can be made online at
http://www.elca.org/planning or they can be sent here to the ELCA
Department for Research and Evaluation, the draft said.
     The executive committee draft -- that it will present to the November
2004 ELCA Church Council meeting -- addresses governance of the churchwide
assembly, Church Council, and boards and committees that relate to
churchwide units.  At the same meeting Hanson will present his proposal
for reorganizing the work of the churchwide organization.  The council is
the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of
the church between churchwide assemblies, which meet every other year.
     The draft plan on governance retains the current size of the ELCA
Churchwide Assembly, the church's highest legislative authority, at
slightly more than 1,000 voting members.  It retains the size of the ELCA
Church Council at 33 but provides for new nomination procedures and
suggests new council advisory members.	The draft also recommends that
existing boards and steering committees be changed to "program
committees."
     The draft is the result of a detailed process in which the committee
sought input about the church's governance system.  Comments and
questionnaires were submitted by a number of ELCA leaders and constituents
since the council in November 2003 directed its executive committee to
lead a process regarding governance of the churchwide organization.
     Noting that the current governance structure "has worked well" since
the ELCA was formed in 1988, the draft said the system has some
weaknesses.  It noted "the perception that it [governance] is complicated,
unresponsive and confusing."
     The current governance structure "has not realized fully its
potential for interdependent ministry -- congregations, synods,
institutions, agencies and the churchwide organization supporting one
another and working together in mission -- that was envisioned for it by
the framers of this church," the draft said.
     A majority of respondents to surveys supported the current governance
system, and voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly declined
several proposals to change the church's governance procedures, the draft
said.  The draft does not propose significant changes; however, the
executive committee "is committed to proposing changes in governance that
will result in a system that is transparent, readily understood,
responsive, flexible, accessible, effective and efficient."
     Guiding principles the committee said it used in proposing changes in
governance were that leadership and decision-making must be shared;
leaders and decision-makers must be accountable to each other; decisions
are best made by well-informed members; and there must be discussion of
issues that involve people with differing views and experiences.

Churchwide Assembly Governance
     Under the draft proposal, the current number of voting members for
the churchwide assembly will remain the same with normal adjustments in
baptized membership.  Assembly voting members will receive a subscription
to The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA, for the biennium in which they
are serving.  Where possible, the ELCA Church Council, in collaboration
with the ELCA Conference of Bishops will provide "a systematic and
standardized process to enable synodical assemblies to discuss and respond
to upcoming major decisions facing the churchwide assembly beginning with
the 2007 assembly," the draft said.
     The draft commits the churchwide organization and church council to
be "in regular and significant" consultation with partner churches and
organizations.	It suggests that formal consultations with various groups,
institutions and agencies be held during years when no churchwide assembly
is scheduled.

Church Council Governance
     While the executive committee is not proposing an expansion of the
Church Council, it recommends that synod assemblies nominate council
members and that additional council advisors be considered.
     The draft proposal suggests that Church Council members be nominated
by synod assemblies beginning with the 2005-2006 biennium.  Each year 11
council members would be nominated and elected by the churchwide assembly.
"Representational principles would be upheld through a rotational system
throughout all the synods," the draft said.
     In addition to the current system of council advisory bishops and
youth advisors, the draft proposes that the presidents of the five ethnic
associations within the ELCA be named as council advisors.  Other advisors
would be the chairs of proposed program committees for churchwide program
units, plus the separately incorporated churchwide units, Augsburg
Fortress Publishers and Women of the ELCA; chair of a consulting committee
for work on behalf of women; one representative from the church's
seminaries, colleges and universities, and one from the social ministry
organizations, chosen through those institutions' umbrella organizations.
     Greater interaction between synods and Church Council members would
be encouraged, the draft said.

Churchwide Boards, Committees and Governance
     The executive committee recommended that existing boards and steering
committees be changed to "program committees."	The idea is to achieve
"greater clarity" concerning the responsibilities of the ELCA's governance
system, the draft said.
     The committee proposed that program committees consist of 15 members
who serve one nonrenewable six-year term.  In most cases, two-thirds of
the committee members would be nominated by synod assemblies and one-third
by the churchwide nominating committee.  All would be elected at the
churchwide assembly, the draft said. Church Council members will serve on
each committee as liaison with voice but not vote, the draft said.
     The Multicultural Ministries program committee would consist of at
least two people from each of this church's five ethnic communities.
     The draft said program committees may consult with representatives
from other organizations and institutions related to the church as needed.
The council executive committee recommends that program committees be
consulted concerning appointment of the program unit's executive director.
Nominations are made by the presiding bishop and confirmed by the council.
     The system is intended to clarify "the distinct roles of and
relationships between the program committees, which are advisory to the
program units, and the Church Council, which is the board of directors of
this church," the draft said.  It also noted that the council has the
responsibility for policy, and the proposed program committees will help
units carry out policy by providing advice and a variety of viewpoints.

Implementation
     Following the council's completion of governance recommendations in
November for action by the 2005 Churchwide Assembly, the council will
determine a "transition plan" for the revised form of governance," the
draft said.  Its decision will guide the assembly nominating committee in
preparing the committee's report to the assembly.
     If the assembly adopts the recommendations, the governance plan "will
guide the election process at the assembly including the number to be
elected to the various committees and boards," the draft said.

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