wfn.org | 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Addresses Variety Of Topics

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 22, 2005

2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Addresses Variety Of Topics
05-150-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Ninth Biennial Churchwide Assembly of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed a
variety of topics, including new worship resources, Interim
Eucharistic Sharing with the United Methodist Church, ethnic
ministry strategies, churchwide structure and governance,
sexuality proposals and a Middle East strategy.
     The assembly was held Aug. 8-14, 2005, at the Orlando (Fla.)
World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center. About 2,300
people participated including 1,015 voting members. The theme for
the assembly was "Marked With the Cross of Christ Forever."
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, chaired the
assembly.  Hanson is also president of the Lutheran World
Federation, Geneva, Switzerland.

Renewing Worship to Include New Worship Book
     By 740-252, the assembly directed the ELCA Office of the
Presiding Bishop through worship staff to complete the liturgical
review of proposed content for a new book of worship in
accordance with the ELCA's established policy, and to work with
synods, chuchwide units, and institutions and agencies on further
development of worship resources. The new worship book, expected
to be available as early as October 2006, will be at the center
of a family of worship resources for the ELCA. The resources are
part of the "Renewing Worship" project.
     The assembly declined amendments to delay the project and to
retain Lutheran Book of Worship as the ELCA's primary worship
resource.

Interim Eucharistic Sharing with the United Methodist Church
Authorized
     Voting members initiated "Interim Eucharistic Sharing" with
the United Methodist Church 877-60. The agreement fosters mutual
prayer, support and study. It encourages joint services of Holy
Communion following guidelines established by both churches.
Interim Eucharistic Sharing is a step that may lead to a
relationship of full communion. The agreement was approved by the
Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church in April 2005.

Ethnic Ministry Strategies Adopted
     The assembly adopted new ministry strategies related
directly to the five strategic directions of the ELCA. The
assembly approved the African Descent Ministry Strategy, "Many
Voices, Tell the Story, Create the Vision: Build our Future" by a
vote of 940-5. Voting members approved an Arab and Middle Eastern
Ministry Strategy, "Bridges Across History, Lands, and Cultures"
by a vote of 858-6. The strategies were developed through the
ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries in consultation with
representatives of each community.

Churchwide Restructuring, Governance Proposals Adopted
     By a vote of 810-169, voting members adopted proposals in
"Faithful Yet Changing: Design for Mission Through the Churchwide
Organization of the ELCA." Three types of units are described in
the approved design for mission: program units, offices and
service units. Reorganization will begin immediately and be
completed by the start of the next fiscal year, Feb. 1, 2006.
     Voting members declined amendments to create a unit with a
specific focus on justice for women; instead, each unit will be
responsible for maintaining full participation of women in its
work. The assembly also declined an amendment that would continue
its role to elect the editor of The Lutheran, the magazine of the
ELCA. Under the approved redesign the editor will be elected by
the ELCA Church Council in consultation with the presiding
bishop, as will executive directors of program and particular
service units.
     The assembly adopted proposals for governance that would
create program committees to work with program units. Voting
members endorsed systems for discussion of major issues on the
churchwide assembly agenda and Church Council nominations through
synod assemblies on a rotating basis. The Church Council will
remain at 33 members, plus the four churchwide officers, and
include a number of new advisors from the program committees,
seminaries, colleges and universities and social ministry
institutions. A voting member proposal that would have
established a Church Council made up of representatives from each
of this church's 65 synods, plus the four churchwide officers,
failed 464-505.

Assembly Acts on Sexuality Proposals
     The assembly considered three recommendations forwarded to
it from the ELCA Church Council. The recommendations resulted
from a multi-year study process on sexuality led by a task force.
The process was mandated by the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
     The assembly adopted Recommendation One by 851-127. The
action urges this church to "concentrate on finding ways to live
together faithfully in the midst of disagreements, recognizing
the God-given mission and communion we share as members of the
body of Christ."
     Recommendation Two was adopted 670-323 as amended. The
action asks that this church "continue to respect the guidance of
the 1993 statement of the Conference of Bishops," which found no
basis for establishing an official ceremony for the blessing of a
homosexual relationship. The assembly reiterated this church's
welcome to gay and lesbian people and its trust in pastors and
congregations as they "discern ways to provide faithful pastoral
care for all to whom they minister."
     Recommendation Three, which would have established a process
by which a person living in a committed long-term homosexual
relationship could seek an exception to current ELCA policy
concerning rostered leaders.  This proposal was defeated 490-503.
This means there is no change in this church's expectations of
rostered leaders.

Holy Land Campaign Implemented
     Voting members urged Lutherans to participate in a campaign,
"Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land," designed
to build awareness. It also encourages engagement in
accompaniment and advocacy activities for "peace with justice"
between Israel and Palestine. By 668-269, the assembly adopted
the campaign, a primary component of the "ELCA Strategy for
Engagement in Israel and Palestine," approved by the ELCA Church
Council in April 2005.

Assembly Hears from President of Union for Reform Judaism
     By 922-2, the assembly adopted a memorial expressing best
wishes to the Jewish community in America on the 350th
anniversary of Jewish presence in the United States. It expressed
appreciation for the distinguished contributions made by Jews and
commended the ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs for its work
to promote Lutheran-Jewish dialogue.
     In response Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president of the Union for
Reform Judaism, said he was "particularly appreciative of the
role played by the [ELCA] in forging meaningful relations between
Christians and American Jews." With regard to Middle East
concerns Yoffie emphasized that "the Reform Jewish movement is
committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict ... For peace to be achieved, territorial compromise
will be required of Israel, and unconditional acceptance of
Israel as a Jewish state will be required of the Palestinians."
Yoffie may have been the first Jewish leader to address an ELCA
Churchwide Assembly. In addition to Yoffie, the assembly heard
remarks from a variety of speakers representing Lutheran
organizations and ecumenical partners.

Budgets Adopted for 2006 and 2007
     The assembly adopted a budget for 2006 with a current fund
fiscal year income proposal of $81.2 million and a World Hunger
income proposal of $16.75 million. For 2007, the assembly
approved a current fund fiscal year income proposal of $81.5
million and a World Hunger income proposal of $17 million.

Memorials Address Social Concerns
     The assembly responded to several memorials from synods that
addressed a variety of concerns:
     + World hunger programs: Voting members adopted a proposal
for renewed commitment to end world hunger. The action made
hunger eradication "a core dimension" of the ELCA and called for
each of the 65 synods to make ending hunger central to its
ministry and mission.
     + Bioethical research: The assembly called on the ELCA
Church in Society program unit to develop a social statement that
"addresses significant theological, ethical, public and pastoral
challenges arising from developments in genetics" for possible
consideration by the 2011 Churchwide Assembly.
     + Refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants: Voting members
approved action to "welcome and encourage task forces to empower
this church in its engagement with refugee and immigrant issues"
and mandated strengthening the church's work with Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Service. It also called on the U.S.
Congress "to end immediately the detention and imprisonment of
non-criminal asylum seekers, undocumented laborers" and others
who are incarcerated and to "implement just, consistent and
humane practices regarding the treatment of asylum seekers."
     + Voting members referred several memorials, including those
regarding faithful conversations about Scripture, mission-support
covenants, licensed lay ministers, and HIV and AIDS education to
various churchwide units or the Church Council for further study.
The response to the Scripture memorial directed that a report be
brought to the council in April 2006.

Resolutions Address Churchwide Matters
     The assembly referred several proposals to churchwide units:
development of a process to study a biblical approach to starting
new mission congregations; creation of a panel to assist assembly
voting members on assembly procedure; assessing the merits of
electing bishops by ecclesiastical ballot; nominating young adult
and youth representatives for Church Council positions; and
inviting people with
disabilities to greater participation in the church.
     The Tenth Biennial Assembly of the ELCA is Aug. 6-12, 2007
at Navy Pier, Chicago.
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     Information about the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at
http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/05 on the Web.

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