Title: ELCA Churchwide Assembly to Meet in Chicago, Aug. 6-11 ELCA NEWS SERVICE
June 8, 2007
ELCA Churchwide Assembly to Meet in Chicago, Aug. 6-11 07-101-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly will elect a presiding bishop and secretary, act on a proposed social statement, proposals for stewardship education and mission funding, an initiative on engaging the Bible, and a commitment for greater ELCA involvement in responding to HIV and AIDS. The assembly, which will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the formation of the ELCA, is Aug. 6-11 here at Navy Pier.
About 2,000 people -- including 1,071 voting members elected by the 65 ELCA synods -- are expected to participate in the ELCA's 10th biennial assembly.
The theme is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!" Daily worship, Bible study and prayer are planned. Bible studies will focus on Galatians and Martin Luther's "Freedom of the Christian."
The churchwide assembly is the ELCA's chief legislative authority and represents the 4.85 million members of the ELCA across the United States and Caribbean. The ELCA is the fifth largest Protestant denomination in the United States and is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop.
The ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, led by its bishop, the Rev. Paul R. Landahl, is hosting the assembly, and volunteers from the synod have been involved in making local arrangements. A committee of the churchwide organization is planning details of the assembly. Myrna J. Sheie, executive assistant to the presiding bishop, is committee chair.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, in his sixth year as ELCA presiding bishop, will chair the assembly. Hanson is also president of the 66.7-million member Lutheran World Federation (LWF), based in Geneva, Switzerland. Assisting Hanson during plenary will be the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, and Carlos Pena, ELCA vice president, Galveston, Texas.
Hanson, who was elected presiding bishop in 2001, previously announced he will be available for possible re-election at the 2007 assembly. Almen, who has served as secretary since the formation of the ELCA in 1988, said he will not seek another term.
Each of the ELCA's 10,389 congregations may send one representative to the assembly as an official "congregational observer."
In addition to the elections for presiding bishop and secretary, the assembly will act on:
+ a proposed social statement, "Our Calling in Education," a 59-page proposal prepared by a task force with input from throughout the church. Dr. Paul J. Dovre, retired president of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., and Christi Lines, principal, St. Paul's Lutheran School, Waverly, Iowa, co-chaired the task force. Social statements are social policy documents, adopted by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, addressing significant social issues.
+ a "Blue Ribbon Committee on Mission Funding" proposal for stewardship education and mission funding. The ELCA Church Council formed the committee to study funding policies and practices of the ELCA. The council is the ELCA's board of directors.
+ a renewal initiative for the church, "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible," aimed at helping members to engage the Scriptures, and for intentional teaching, understanding and use of Lutheran approaches to Scripture.
+ a proposal to affirm the church's work to introduce "Evangelical Lutheran Worship," the ELCA's newest worship materials introduced in 2006.
+ a proposal to commit the church to greater engagement in response to HIV and AIDS through development of a churchwide strategy for the coming decade.
+ budget recommendations for 2008 and 2009. For 2008 the Church Council has proposed a budget of $81.67 million and an ELCA World Hunger income proposal of $19.25 million. For 2009 the council recommended a budget of $81.92 million and an ELCA World Hunger income proposal of $20 million.
In addition, the assembly will:
+ elect 11 new members to the Church Council, and others to various boards and committees that work in partnership with the churchwide organization.
+ act on several constitutional amendments to be presented for consideration, along with resolutions or "memorials" from synods, and proposals from assembly voting members. A churchwide Memorials Committee will meet June 29-30 to determine its recommendations on synod assembly memorials to the churchwide assembly.
+ hear reports on multicultural ministries and justice for women. The Church Council commended the content of each report "for study, reflection and response throughout this church."
+ hear reports and greetings from representatives of the ELCA's ecumenical partners, other church bodies and church organizations.
+ recognize the 100th anniversary of Lutheran campus ministry and the 60th anniversary of the LWF.
Significant funding for the assembly is provided by the churchwide organization with some financial support from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a non-for-profit fraternal benefit society based in Minneapolis.
During the assembly, "Affirming Young Leaders: Thanks be to God!,"a gathering for young pastors, associates in ministry, diaconal ministers and deaconesses of the ELCA is planned for Aug. 6-9. A youth convocation will be held Aug. 6-11.
Preceding the assembly is "Worship Jubilee 2007," an Aug. 3- 6 event at Navy Pier celebrating the renewal of worship in the ELCA. "Building for the Future," the men's ministry summit planned by Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA men's ministry, is planned for Aug. 3-5 at the Chicago Hyatt Regency Hotel. A young adult convocation for 77 young adult assembly voting members is Aug. 5-6. The ELCA Church Council and ELCA Conference of Bishops will meet Aug. 5-6.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly and proposals to be considered is at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/07 on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog