wfn.org | Evangelism, CCM, Human Sexuality Top Topics at 45 Synod Assemblies

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 10, 2001

EVANGELISM, CCM, HUMAN SEXUALITY TOP TOPICS AT 45 SYNOD ASSEMBLIES
01-185-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Forty-five of the 65 synods of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) completed their annual assemblies
between June 1 and June 24. The most common subjects addressed by voting
members in those assemblies were evangelism, implementation of a
full-communion agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, and
concerns related to human sexuality.  Nineteen synods elected or
re-elected bishops.
     Twenty synod assemblies had been completed by May 31.
     Many of the issues from synod assemblies were forwarded for action
to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which meets in Indianapolis Aug. 8-14.
The churchwide assembly, which consists of 1,040 voting members from
throughout the church, is the ELCA's chief legislative authority.  It
meets every two years.
      According to reports received by the ELCA Department for
Synodical Relations, at least 16 synods adopted resolutions or memorials
related to evangelism between June 1 and June 24.  A memorial is a synod
resolution which calls for specific action by the churchwide assembly.
     Most evangelism memorials had similar wording.  The memorials
called on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to focus the ELCA's commitment to
mission and asked the presiding bishop to establish a "blue ribbon" task
force to develop a "comprehensive evangelism strategy."  Such a strategy
could be submitted to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly for action, the
memorials said.  In synod assemblies completed by May 31, at least four
adopted similar memorials.
     The 2001 Churchwide Assembly will hear a report on the church's
evangelism efforts in the 1990s and consider adoption of a new strategy.

VARIETY OF FULL COMMUNION ISSUES RAISED
     At least six synods adopted a memorial known as "Called to
Freedom," or  adopted similar proposals.  The proposals calls for the
churchwide assembly to adopt a series of constitutional amendments to
accommodate church leaders who cannot accept some requirements of a
full-communion agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, which
went into effect this year.
     The agreement   "Called to Common Mission" (CCM)   calls on the
two churches to share ministries, and under certain circumstances,
allows for exchange of clergy.  For some Lutherans, CCM is unacceptable.
CCM opponents say it threatens Lutheran identity and gives more power to
bishops.  For example, CCM requires a bishop to preside at all
ordinations of Lutheran pastors.  Before CCM, Lutheran bishops presided
at ordinations but could delegate that authority to another pastor.
     The churchwide assembly will vote on a bylaw proposal to allow an
ELCA synod bishop, under certain circumstances, to delegate to another
pastor the authority to preside at an ordination.  At least seven synod
assemblies urged the churchwide assembly to adopt the bylaw proposal.
The ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod assembly opposed the bylaw; the
Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod assembly said a bishop should
preside at all ordinations.
     The ELCA Western North Dakota Synod assembly also considered a
proposal to support the proposed bylaw.  The assembly vote was a tie.
The Rev. Duane C. Danielson, bishop, declined to break the tie, and the
proposal was defeated.
     The ELCA Central-Southern Illinois Synod defeated a proposal that
the churchwide assembly provide for a "guaranteed option" for
ordinations outside the historic episcopate and that qualified
candidates not be denied ordinations free of the historic episcopate.
The historic episcopate is a succession of bishops back to the earliest
days of the Christian church.  It was brought to the relationship by the
Episcopal Church and adopted by the ELCA when it adopted CCM.
     The same synod and the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod defeated similar
memorials that would allow flexibility for bishops to be installed and
pastors to be ordained outside the historic episcopate.
     The South Dakota Synod assembly called for a new vote on CCM; a
similar proposal was ruled out of order when supporters attempted to
bring it to the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod assembly.
     The Southwestern Minnesota Synod assembly defeated a memorial that
its synod council poll members about the requirements of CCM and that
constitutional amendments be ratified by two-thirds of its members.  The
defeated proposal called on the churchwide organization to adopt the
same ratification process.
     The ELCA East-Central Synod of Wisconsin assembly adopted a
resolution calling on congregations to restore financial giving which
they withheld to the wider church because they do not agree with CCM.

HUMAN SEXUALITY CONCERNS VARY WIDELY
     The ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod assembly adopted a resolution of
support for pastors and congregations who seek to bless same-gender
relationships, and it affirmed those who welcome gay and lesbian people
to their congregations but prefer not to bless such relationships.
     "We charitably respect one another as we examine our
understandings and practices, speaking the truth in love, practicing the
mutual conversation and consolation of the saints," the resolution said.
     The action follows that synod assembly's controversial action in
2000, in which it voted not to discipline pastors or congregations which
chose to bless same-gender relationships.  The ELCA has no formal policy
on the issue, but in 1993 members of its Conference of Bishops -- an
advisory body of the ELCA -- said they do not approve of such
ceremonies.
     The ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod assembly asked the
churchwide assembly to develop a rite of blessing same-gender
relationships, to affirm ELCA pastors who bless such relationships and
to produce educational resources on the subject.  The same assembly also
called on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to continue to sanction blessings
of marriage between men and a women.
     The ELCA South Dakota Synod assembly asked the ELCA Division for
Church in Society to develop and submit a statement on human sexuality
for consideration by the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.  It suggested
the statement affirm that sex is a gift from God and reserved
exclusively in marriage between a woman and a man; that married people
remain faithful; and that an unmarried person is called to sexual
abstinence.
     The South Dakota Synod assembly also narrowly defeated a proposal
that it consider studying and becoming a "Reconciling in Christ" synod,
which encourages its congregations to welcome gay and lesbian people to
full participation in congregations.  The ELCA Upstate New York Synod
assembly adopted a proposal to become a Reconciling in Christ synod.
     A proposal that affirmed that gay and lesbian people are welcome
within the "life and ministry" of the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod received
a majority vote, but fell short of a synod requirement that it be
adopted with a two-thirds vote.  The defeated proposal said gay and
lesbian people are "expected and encouraged to share fully" in the
sacramental and general life of the synod.
     Two synods adopted resolutions regarding sexual boundaries or
ethics.  The ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod called for its pastors to
complete continuing education in "sexual boundary" issues.  The Central
States Synod asked the ELCA presiding bishop to review present
disciplinary policies on clergy sexual misconduct and "to make necessary
changes to protect potential victims."

CHURCH ISSUES, SOCIAL CONCERNS RAISED BY SYNODS
     Synod assemblies also spoke on a variety of church issues and
social concerns:
     + Support for ELCA World Hunger Appeal: At least three synods
the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod, the ELCA Upstate New York Synod
and the ELCA Allegheny Synod   adopted resolutions supporting financial
giving to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.  The appeal is the fund-raising
arm of the church's world hunger programs.  The Upstate New York Synod
suggested members consider donating upcoming federal tax rebates to the
appeal.
     + Abortion concerns: At least two synods addressed this issue.
The ELCA Nebraska Synod asked the 2001 Churchwide Assembly to direct the
ELCA Board of Pensions to limit coverage for abortions.  The ELCA
Southeastern Minnesota Synod defeated a memorial that called for changes
related to abortion coverage.
     + Pension equity: The ELCA Northwest Washington Synod and the
Northern Great Lakes Synod asked the churchwide assembly to direct the
ELCA Board of Pensions to "examine its policies and adopt methods to
bring into equity pensions of professional leaders of the ELCA."
     + Health care for seminarians: The ELCA Northwest Washington Synod
called for the churchwide assembly to direct the ELCA Board of Pensions
to "develop and implement" a health care plan for seminarians, to be
paid for by a surcharge on active members' premiums.  The ELCA
Northwestern Ohio Synod asked its synod council to ask the ELCA Church
Council to include seminary students and their dependents in the
church's health care program, with the costs to be shared by ELCA
congregations.
     + Churchwide assembly voting members: Two synods defeated
proposals regarding election of voting members to the churchwide
assembly.  The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod defeated a proposal that
called for more information about nominees, and the  Southwestern
Pennsylvania Synod said "no" to a proposal to ask the churchwide
assembly to delete  specific categories in electing lay voting members
to churchwide and synod assemblies.
     Synods addressed a variety of other issues.  Among them were
proposals calling for revisions of the ELCA's abortion social statement
(ELCA South Dakota Synod); support for a moratorium on the death penalty
(ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod); a call for a 69-member ELCA Church Council,
consisting of representatives of all 65 synods, plus the four churchwide
officers (ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod); a call for an international
ecumenical leaders gathering under the direction of the "Bishop of Rome"
(the pope)(ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod); a call for a consultation on
the role of science within the church's mission (ELCA South Carolina
Synod); a call for churchwide support for the ELCA Caribbean Synod in
its work to seek an "immediate end to all military operations on
Vieques" (ELCA Caribbean Synod); and a call for equal treatment in the
application of Medicaid programs for people living in U.S. territories
in the Caribbean (ELCA Caribbean Synod).

BISHOPS RE-ELECTED AND ELECTED
     Thirteen new bishops were elected to six-year terms at synod
assembles completed between June 1 and June 24.  They are the Rev.
William "Chris" Boerger, ELCA Northwest Washington Synod; the Rev.
George G. Carlson, ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin; the Rev. Carol
S. Hendrix, ELCA Lower Susquehanna Synod; the Rev. Robert D. Hofstad,
ELCA Southwestern Washington Synod; the Rev. Craig E. Johnson, ELCA
Minneapolis Area Synod; the Rev. Ralph E. Jones, ELCA Northwestern
Pennsylvania Synod; the Rev. Paul R. Landahl, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago
Synod; the Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt, ELCA Central States Synod; the Rev.
Margarita Martinez, ELCA Caribbean Synod; the Rev. Michael J. Neils,
ELCA Grand Canyon Synod; the Rev. Dean W. Nelson, ELCA Southern
California (West) Synod; the Rev. Harold L. Usgaard, ELCA Southeastern
Minnesota Synod; and the Rev. Rolf P. Wangberg, ELCA Northwestern
Minnesota Synod.
     Six bishops were re-elected to six-year terms. They are the Rev.
Robert D. Berg, ELCA Northwest Synod of Wisconsin; the Rev. Paul J.
Blom, ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod; the Rev. Andrea
DeGroot-Nesdahl, ELCA South Dakota Synod; the Rev. A. Donald Main, ELCA
Upper Susquehanna Synod; the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, ELCA Southwestern
Pennsylvania Synod; and the Rev. Theodore F. Schneider, ELCA
Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod.
-- -- --
     Information about synods, including results of elections for
bishop, is at http://www.elca.org/sr/regions.and.synods.html on the
ELCA's Web site.

     For details of actions in synod assemblies through May 31, see
"Lutherans Address Variety of Issues in Early Synod Assemblies, issued
June 8.

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