wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Adopts Resolution Regarding Bylaw

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 14, 2001

ELCA ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION REGARDING BYLAW
01-CWA73-JB

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- By a vote of 870-105, the churchwide
assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a
resolution requesting the presiding bishop to consult with leaders of
the Episcopal Church regarding the full communion agreement of the ELCA
and Episcopal Church.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention center.  Nearly 2,500
people participated, including 1,039 ELCA voting members.  The theme for
the biennial assembly was "Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New
Century."
     The resolution was proposed by the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop
of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod and chair of the ELCA
Conference of Bishops.  It referred to the full communion agreement,
"Called to Common Mission (CCM)," adopted by the ELCA in 1999 and the
Episcopal Church in 2001.   During the assembly, voting members adopted
a bylaw that would allow, in unusual circumstances, a bishop to delegate
to another pastor the authority to ordain.  The bylaw was proposed in
response to some Lutherans criticisms of CCM.
     McCoid's resolution requested the ELCA presiding bishop "engage in
continuing consultation" with the presiding bishop and other leaders in
the Episcopal Church, "affirming the abiding dedication of this church
to live fully into the commitments" that are part of CCM.
     The resolution expressed "gratitude to the members of the
Lutheran-Episcopal Coordinating Committee as they foster mutual
understanding in the implementation of the relationship of full
communion."
     "We would look at this as a way we can give the Episcopal Church a
message about the bylaw and move forward with implementation," McCoid
said during discussion on the resolution.
     Karl Cambronne, voting member from the ELCA Minneapolis Area
Synod, said the proposal was a "left-handed attempt" to undo the
assembly's action to adopt the bylaw on ordination in unusual
circumstances.
     However, during debate several other bishops said they supported
the bylaw.
-- -- --
     Information about assembly actions is
http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site.  Recorded
updates are available at 773/380-2477.

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