wfn.org | ELCA Council Pairs Synods, Conducts Elections

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 14, 2005

ELCA Council Pairs Synods, Conducts Elections
05-065-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a plan that would
complete a process to pair the 65 synods of the ELCA with one
another for churchwide governance purposes.  It also elected
people to fill vacancies on boards, steering and advisory
committees of the church.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and
serves as the legislative authority of the church between
churchwide assemblies.	The council met here April 9-11.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14,
in Orlando, Fla.
     The council established a plan to pair synods for purposes
of nominating ELCA members to Church Council and program
committee positions and for other governance implications.  It
adopted more than 30 pairings of synods.
     The Rev. Lowell G. Almen, secretary of the ELCA, told the
council the pairings were made in relation to the nine
geographical regions of the church.  He said most regions have an
even number of synods for pairing while a few do not.
     In separate action, the council elected Susan L. Williams,
Cetronia, Pa.; Joy M. Newcom, Forest City, Iowa; and Ben T.
McDonald Coltvet, Pewaukee, Wis., to serve on the advisory
committee for The Lutheran, magazine of the ELCA.
     The council ratified selected clergy and lay people to fill
vacancies on the board of trustees for the ELCA Endowment Fund
and the board of advisors for the ELCA Foundation.  It also
transmitted to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly a slate of nominees
to fill vacancies on the churchwide nominating committee this
fall.
     The council elects clergy and lay individuals to fill
unexpired terms on boards, steering committees and certain
advisory committees of the ELCA between churchwide assemblies.
It also affirms certain positions recommended by commissions.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news