ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 11, 2007
ELCA Assembly Requests Clarification of Bishops' Accountability 07-CWA-046-KK
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In action on Aug. 11 at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the assembly asked synod bishops to discuss their accountability "to the adopted policies, practices and procedures of the ELCA." The assembly requested that a statement of such accountability be brought for consideration to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people participated, including 1,069 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly was "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
When introducing the motion, the Rev. David P. Gleason, ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod said, "It seems to me that those who represent the church and its striving for unity should in fact follow those adopted practices and procedures. I think that it would simply help to clarify for all of us in the church where the lines of accountability lie for our bishops." By a vote of 318 to 309, the report was requested of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, a 67-member advisory body of the church which meets at least twice yearly. - - -
Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news