wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Declines To Expand Church Council

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ELCA Assembly Declines To Expand Church Council
CWA-47-05--KB*

     ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) defeated a proposal
to expand the ELCA Church Council to 69 members by a vote of 505-
464 Aug. 13.  The amendment needed a two-thirds majority for
adoption.  The amendment, introduced by the Rev. Peter Rogness,
bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod, was debated twice
during the assembly before a final decision.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the World Center Marriott and
Convention Center.  About 2,300 people participated, including
1,018 ELCA voting members.  The theme for the biennial assembly
was "Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever."
     In the amendment, Rogness proposed the "voting members of
the Church Council shall consist of the four churchwide officers
and 65 other persons, elected by the Churchwide Assembly."  There
are 33 persons and the four officers on the council currently.
The proposed 65-member council would consist of one
representative from each ELCA synod.
     "I applaud Bishop Rogness' system of 65," said Paul
Erickson, voting member, ELCA South Dakota Synod.  "A
representative council made up from a representative from each of
the synods coming to do the highest legislative work of the
church is always a good idea.  I trust the church, and I would
trust the Church Council when it represents the entire body."
     Several voting members voiced their opinion on the benefits
of having a representative from each synod.  The Rev. William E.
Rindy, voting member, ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod, stated it
would "reduce anxiety" by having a representative to explain the
church's actions to their synod.  Each synod would have "a person
with a recognizable face that people could go to" for
understanding of the wider church.
     "I want to remind us that in our constitution we talk about
one church, in different expressions," said Sally Wing, voting
member, ELCA Northwest Washington Synod, during the debate.
"Each council member, each committee member, represents the whole
church."
     "We want to make sure that there are voices from all parts
of the church, but not people who say 'I come from Washington and
this is what we want to get done for us.'  No.	We want to be
sure that the smaller representational body speaks on behalf of
the whole church," Wing said.
     The Rev. Gregory R. Pile, bishop of the ELCA Allegheny
Synod, said that 33 more people on the Church Council would mean
more time is needed to accomplish tasks.  Extra time means longer
meetings and more costs, said Pile.  Several other voting members
voiced similar concerns.
-- -- --
     Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/05 on the Web.

* Kirsten H. Boettner is a senior communication major at Luther
College, Decorah, Iowa.  This summer she is an intern with the
ELCA News Service.

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