wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Elects Bishop, Adopts Bylaw, Authorizes Study

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

CHICAGO, United States of America/GENEVA, 20 August 2001
(ELCANews/LWI) - The 2001 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a controversial bylaw to
address concerns about ordination policies, authorized a study on
homosexuality and elected the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, 54, to a six-year
term as presiding bishop. Hanson is presently bishop of the ELCA
Saint Paul (Minn.) Area Synod and is vice chair of the Conference of
Bishops. Hanson will succeed Rev. H. George Anderson, 69, whose
six-year term ends October 31.

The actions were among many taken by the assembly's 1,039 voting
members who met August 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center in
Indianapolis. The Churchwide Assembly is the chief legislative
authority of the ELCA. The theme for the biennial assembly was
"Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."

Bylaw Adopted
Voting members adopted a bylaw amendment on ordination in "unusual
circumstances," with 67.4 percent of the vote, slightly more than the
two-thirds vote required to pass the proposal. The bylaw will allow a
synodical bishop, under certain circumstances, to authorize another
pastor of the church to preside at an ordination. The bylaw resulted
from concerns of some Lutherans related to "Called to Common Mission"
(CCM), the full-communion agreement of the ELCA and Episcopal Church.

"We are concerned that the ELCA has decided to adopt the bylaw," said
Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold III of the Episcopal Church, in a
written statement. "This appears to be a unilateral alteration of the
mutual commitment that both our churches have solemnly made to enter
into full communion based on CCM. Obviously, it is too early to tell
how frequently the ordination in 'unusual circumstances' will occur,
or what the Episcopal Church's likely response will be. Only our
General Convention can speak officially on that."

Later, the assembly adopted a resolution requesting that the ELCA
presiding bishop "engage in continuing consultation with the
presiding bishop and other representatives of the Episcopal Church,"
to affirm the dedication of the ELCA to live fully into CCM.

Evangelism, Ministry Strategies Adopted
Voting members adopted a new evangelism strategy for the next decade
and heard a report on the strategy for the previous 10 years. The
resolution provides guidance to Lutherans to "clarify their sense of
purpose and mission, seek new ways to be open to innovation and
change, and share new or existing evangelism plans with the whole
church prior to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly."

The assembly adopted a Latino Ministry Strategy by an overwhelming
vote August 11. Latinos are the fastest-growing ethnic group in ELCA
congregations. The assembly also adopted a ministry strategy to reach
out to Asian and Pacific Islanders, by recommitting the ELCA to
partnership with existing Asian and Pacific Islander congregations,
intensifying outreach with the gospel among the Asian and Pacific
Islander communities.

Homosexuality Study Authorized; Report, Recommendations In 2005
In response to memorials from synods, voting members, by a 899-115
vote, called for a churchwide study on homosexuality, including
matters related to the blessing of same-gender relationships and
ordination of gay and lesbian people in committed relationships. The
action also calls for a final report and an action plan for
implementation to be presented to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
The document is to include study of the Lutheran understanding of the
Word of God and biblical, theological, scientific and practical
material on homosexuality.

In a related and separate action, voting members, by a 624-381 vote,
asked the Church Council, the Conference of Bishops and the Division
for Ministry to create a specific plan and time line leading toward a
decision concerning the ordination of homosexual persons in committed
relationships. The plan and any changes that would require assembly
approval are to be placed before the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Presently, ELCA policy states that ordained ministers who are
homosexual in their self-understanding are expected to abstain from
homosexual sexual relationships.

ELCA Affirms Ecumenical Relationships
The assembly affirmed, by a 892-25 vote, that the ELCA accept an
invitation to become a "partner in mission and dialogue" with
Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), a fellowship of nine churches that
share ministry together.

During the assembly, leaders of the ELCA and the Evangelical Church
of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil signed a "Covenant for
Cooperative Mission."

Next Assembly
The eighth biennial assembly of the ELCA is scheduled for August
11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee. (738 words) (ELCA NEWS SERVICE)

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