Title: ELCA Bishops Hear Concluding Report from ELCA Secretary Almen ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 17, 2007
ELCA Bishops Hear Concluding Report from ELCA Secretary Almen 07-169-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In his final report to the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, shared some reflections about the strengths of the ELCA and specific concerns for its future. Almen also commented on how he has changed his mind about the size and role of the ELCA Church Council, the church's board of directors.
Almen made the comments Oct. 6 to the Conference, an advisory body of the ELCA consisting of the 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. The conference met here Oct. 4- 9.
Almen, 66, had told the conference that his final report would include some reflections about his more than 20 years as secretary. He announced one year earlier that he would not seek another term as secretary. His terms ends Oct. 31. David D. Swartling, Seattle, was elected at the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to succeed Almen.
Expressing gratitude for the formation of the ELCA, Almen said, "I believe that we as members of the ELCA are better equipped now to face the challenges and struggles that await us in the coming years and decades -- that is, better equipped together than what would have been the case if we had remained in our separate predecessor (church) bodies."
He also expressed appreciation for the ELCA Confession of Faith in its governing documents. He noted, among other things, that the ELCA is part of the "whole Church catholic."
"That is a crucial awareness for us, I believe," he said. The ELCA must be aware of its responsibility within the international Lutheran community and the wider ecumenical community, Almen said.
ELCA seminaries should be treated as a crucial element in any strategic planning for the ELCA's future, and strategic planning for the seminaries "ought to reflect the responsibilities of that institution for the health and well- being of this church," he said. The ELCA secretary warned that the ELCA faces a danger if the seminaries produce "entrepreneurs" operating in the church rather than candidates "willing to be agents of this church" serving as ordained ministers.
Because there's a need to develop deeper synodical and churchwide relationships, ELCA governing documents should be amended to provide for one member of the Church Council from each of the 65 synods, Almen said.
Roles of churchwide advisors are not entirely clear, Almen said, adding he'd rather the ELCA have a larger voting membership on the council.
"I imagine greater engagement of council members with units by certain council members serving on program committees of a reduced size. And I envision the elimination of various advisory categories to allow extra funding for a larger number of voting members who would engage fully in smaller program committees and regular council committees," he said.
Almen mentioned other specific concerns he had about the ELCA: + The ELCA must determine why there has been a dramatic decline in membership in various places, especially in the past five years. He cited declining birth rates among members as a key reason. + Factors affecting levels of mission-support income for synods and churchwide ministries must be examined. + The ELCA Conference of Bishops should act in the interests of the whole church and not so much on specific local interests. "I sensed in the early days of the ELCA a deep awareness of this broader duty of the Conference of Bishops. In the years since then, there have been a few times when that awareness has not been as evident. Those examples of an occasionally narrow perspective trouble me," he said. + There exists "an inadequate understanding of ordination ... in places within this church," he said. The power to ordain resides in the whole church, and it is not to be treated as an individual "right" but a "rite" of the ELCA, Almen said. + Almen expressed concern about how a bylaw that provided for "ordination in unusual circumstances" has been practiced, arguing that neither the bylaw requirements nor the related policy "are being observed conscientiously." He was especially critical of last-minute requests for exceptions after ordinations had been scheduled, saying "that the whistle needs to be sounded loudly on that game of last-minute requests and written statements that do not meet the criteria listed in the policy." + Almen said, if a solid foundation is provided in a new social statement on human sexuality, he hopes "that a way may be found to acknowledge particular ministry needs and the gifts of those who are now precluded under the ministry standards as currently stated."
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