wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Addresses Variety of Topics

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

ELCA Assembly Addresses Variety of Topics 
Voting Members Take Action on Sexuality Proposals, Churchwide
Restructuring 

CHICAGO, United States of America/GENEVA, 25 August 2005 (LWI) - 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, ELCA's highest legislative authority met August 8-14 in
Orlando, Florida under the theme, "Marked With the Cross of Christ
Forever." ELCA Presiding Bishop, Mark S. Hanson, chaired the assembly
attended by 2,300 people including 1,015 voting members. Hanson is also
president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

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

Assembly Acts on Sexuality Proposals

The assembly considered three recommendations forwarded by the ELCA
Church Council. The recommendations resulted from a multi-year study
process on sexuality led by a task force.

By a vote of 851-127, the assembly adopted Recommendation One that
urges the 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 by 670-323 votes as amended, asking the
ELCA to "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 the 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,
required a two-thirds vote to be adopted. It was defeated by 490-503
votes.

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,
1 February 2006.

Further, the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop through its worship
staff, was asked to complete the liturgical review of proposed content
for a new worship book expected to be available by October 2006. 

The assembly adopted new ministry strategies namely, the African
Descent Ministry Strategy and an Arab and Middle Eastern Ministry
Strategy, developed through the ELCA Commission for Multicultural
Ministries in consultation with representatives of each community.

Voting members also urged Lutherans to participate in a campaign,
"Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land," designed to build
awareness and encourage engagement in accompaniment and advocacy
activities for "peace with justice" between Israel and Palestine.

Renewed Commitment to End Global Hunger 

Responding to a variety of concerns that were addressed by various
synods, voting members adopted a proposal for renewed commitment to end
world hunger, and urged each synod to make this "core dimension" of the
ELCA central to its ministry and mission.

On bio-ethical research, the assembly called for the development of 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.

The assembly 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 US 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."

The Tenth Biennial Assembly of the ELCA will take place 6-12 August,
2007 in Chicago, Illinois.

The ELCA has around 5 million members. It joined the LWF in 1988. (718
words)

Information about the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at
www.ELCA.org/assembly/05 on the Web.

(Edited from the ELCA News Service.)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

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