wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Acts on Seven Memorials

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 14, 2001

ELCA ASSEMBLY ACTS ON SEVEN MEMORIALS
01-CWA69-JI

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America's (ELCA) churchwide assembly approved a number of
memorials -- resolutions from synods -- in the afternoon session Aug.
13.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center.  There
are about 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting
members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known:
Sharing Faith in a New Century."
     All but one of the resolutions came from the assembly's memorials
committee.
     The exception, proposed by a voting member from the floor,
encouraged voting members to donate unused portions of their per diem
allowances for meals during the assembly to the "Stand With Africa"
campaign and the ELCA's World Hunger appeal. It was adopted by an
overwhelming vote.
     One of the other approved memorials pointed to humanitarian
concerns about economic sanctions and embargoes against Iraq and Cuba,
and calls for an end to them.
     The one about Iraq notes the need for "safeguards to prevent Iraq
from acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction." The portion
concerning Cuba commits the ELCA to work toward ending the embargo
against Cuba and calls for "establishment of normal relations between
the United States and Cuba through all appropriate channels."
     The memorial also asks ELCA members to pray for citizens of both
countries.
     Other resolutions adopted Aug. 13:
     * refer a memorial to the Church Council regarding how
undesignated funds and bequests should be used;
     * voice "serious concern about inadequate compensation and
pensions" for church workers -- both active and retired. The measure
encourages ELCA synods "to adopt adequate compensation guidelines" and
congregations to meet or exceed them; and asks for gifts of more than $5
million for an ELCA Special Needs Retirement Fund.
      * decline proposed amendments to the ELCA's "Social Statement on
Abortion" and affirm actions of the 1999 churchwide assembly "to
encourage continuing moral deliberation throughout this church on
abortion"; and
      * refer to the ELCA Division for Church in Society concerns of
two synods about the application of the social statement on abortion to
the medical plan for ELCA church workers. It also repeats the need for
"continuing moral deliberation" about abortion.
-- -- --
     Information about assembly action is at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site.  Recorded
updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.

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