wfn.org | ELCA Council to Review Publishing 'Partnership,' Evaluates Commission

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 10, 2001

ELCA COUNCIL TO REVIEW PUBLISHING 'PARTNERSHIP,' EVALUATES COMMISSION
01-078-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) will review the relationship between Augsburg
Fortress Publishers and units of the church responsible for developing
congregational resources.  The council also affirmed the renewal of the
mandate for the ELCA Commission for Women.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as
the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide
assemblies.  The council met here April 6-7.  Assemblies are held every
other year; the next is Aug. 8-14 in Indianapolis.
     The council requested that staff of the ELCA Office of the Bishop
establish a task force to review the relationship between Augsburg
Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA, Minneapolis, and churchwide
units, particularly the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries
(DCM).  The task force will work to determine whether or not the present
relationship best serves the ministries of the ELCA.
     At its February 2001 meeting, the DCM board authorized the
division's executive directors to "investigate alternative" means of
"publishing, producing and distributing resources" designed to assist
congregations in carrying out their ministries.  The board asked the
council, through the council's Planning and Evaluation Committee, to
review the relationship between the division and publishing house.
     DCM provides support for congregations in such areas as education,
evangelism, lay leadership, planning, service and justice, social
ministry, stewardship,
and worship.  With other areas of the church, the division develops
resources for congregational use in "partnership" with Augsburg
Fortress.
     "The committee discussed the DCM board action and considered a
similar request made by DCM in 1998," said Karl D. Anderson, Neenah,
Wis., member of the council's Planning and Evaluation committee.
     "The committee also reviewed the relevant [ELCA] constitutional
language, the scope of a potential review, and the importance and
visibility of the issue," Anderson said.
     Two members of the council's Planning and Evaluation Committee
will serve on the task force.  The council requested an interim report
from the task force for its November 2001 meeting, and a report with any
recommendations to the Planning and Evaluation Committee for the
council's April 2002 meeting.
     In another action the council affirmed the renewal of the mandate
for the ELCA Commission for Women and expressed "deep appreciation" to
the staff and steering committee for the commission's "ongoing service
in the ministry of the ELCA."
     In consultation with the council, members of the Program and
Evaluation Committee reviewed the work of the Commission for Women
during the last two years.  The committee reviewed results of a
comprehensive survey, considered what it had heard in discussions with
Joanne Chadwick, the commission's executive director, and with other
commission staff.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html