wfn.org | ELCA Council Adopts Policy Revision for Independent Organizations

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 15, 2002

ELCA COUNCIL ADOPTS POLICY REVISION FOR INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS
02-086-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) adopted a revised policy for relationships of
churchwide units with independent Lutheran organizations.
     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 5-7. Assemblies are held every
other year; the next is Aug. 11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee.
     Last year, the council delayed action on requests from
organizations which sought recognition as independent Lutheran
organizations.  The delay came at the request of the council's program
and services committee, which questioned the meaning of such
recognition.  The council asked the ELCA Office of the Secretary to
consult with others about the designation and bring a report with
possible recommendations back to the council.
     The revised policy adopted by the council provides for
acknowledgment of an independent Lutheran organization in relation to a
specific unit of the ELCA churchwide organization, said Brian D. Rude,
council member, Coon Valley, Wis.  Rude, who chairs the council's Legal
and Constitutional Review Committee, presented the proposal.
       Documents about the relationship of the organization and the
churchwide unit are to be filed with the Office of the Secretary, the
revised policy said. It also calls for an annual review of the
acknowledged relationship.
     In a separate and related action, the council referred three
requests by organizations for acknowledgment to churchwide units under
terms of the revised policy.  A request from Lutherans Concerned/North
America was referred to the ELCA Division for Outreach; a request from
the Lutheran Renewal Organization was referred to the ELCA Division for
Congregational Ministries; and a request from Lutheran Partners in
Global Ministry was sent to the Division for Global Mission.
     In other actions, the council:
     + approved a request to transfer $395,300 from an expanded
ministry fund to the Office of the Presiding Bishop to assist in the
strategic planning process.  The funds will be used to support a
significant strategic planning process underway within the church.  This
spring, participants at ELCA synod assemblies will be asked for input
into the process.  A Web site has been established at
http://www.elca.org/planning/ for comments and suggestions, said the
Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration, ELCA Office of the
Presiding Bishop.  Recommendations that may result from the process are
expected to be presented to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly.
     + made plans to meet in a retreat to focus on strategic planning
July 27-28 in conjunction with the ELCA Global Mission Event in
Minneapolis.

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