Title: ELCA Council Adopts Proposal for Multi-Year Emphasis on Scripture ELCA NEWS SERVICE
April 11, 2006
ELCA Council Adopts Proposal for Multi-Year Emphasis on Scripture 06-058-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a proposal "for a multi- year special focus among members, congregations and synods ... on the authority and interpretation of Scripture." The proposed emphasis has the working title "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible."
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here April 1-2. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-12, 2007.
The idea for an emphasis on Scripture originated with the 2005 ELCA North Carolina Synod Assembly, which called for an ongoing effort to address issues "surrounding the authority of Scripture" and principles of biblical interpretation. The synod made the request in the form of a memorial to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. That assembly referred it to the ELCA Office of the Secretary for further study in consultation with the presiding bishop, the ELCA Conference of Bishops and the ELCA Division for Ministry (now part of ELCA Vocation and Education), and asked that a report and possible recommendations be presented to the council's April 2006 meeting.
A background report and a suggested timeline for the project were presented to the council. The suggested timeline calls for a consultation, and development and testing of resources.
The report said a working group "developed a consensus that the initial response should involve the members of this church in reading the Bible, informed by resources that would help them understand and use a Lutheran approach to the Scripture," the report to the council said. The report said the initiative will follow a model established by the Renewing Worship project, a multi-year effort aimed at introducing a generation of worship resources to the ELCA.
The working group suggested a consultation be convened by the ELCA churchwide organization. The consultation would explore "foundational Lutheran principles for reading and interpreting the Bible," the report said. Speakers will be asked to address the consultation topic, and to articulate and apply the principles, the report said. Synod bishops, pastors, teachers, theologians and specialists in Christian education will be invited to the consultation.
Following the consultation, trial resources would be developed to be tested by synods, congregations, seminaries, and ELCA colleges and universities. An additional churchwide consultation and a proposal for ongoing "biblical renewal" in the ELCA are also expected, the report said.
A general-audience resource, "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible," will be developed by the beginning of 2007. The resource is intended to be a theological introduction to the Bible accompanied by a study guide. It would "explain and demonstrate Lutheran principles for reading the Bible," the report said.
An excerpt from the resource is planned for introduction and testing at spring 2007 synod assemblies and the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. In fall 2007 the pilot resource is to be offered to congregations along with training for its use, the report said.
In fall 2008 pilot resources for the next phase of the project, "ELCA Reads the Bible" are to be introduced.
"These study guides would encourage all members, congregations and institutions of this church to focus on reading and discussing selected books of the Bible using Lutheran principles for reading and interpretation," the background report said.
Pilot resources for "ELCA Reads the Bible" are to be presented to the 2009 synod assemblies and the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Additional resources are expected to be developed in 2009 and 2010, the report said.
The council requested that the working group continue to refine the proposed emphasis on Scripture and asked for a progress report, including financial implications and possible recommendations, to be presented at the council's November 2006 meeting.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog