Churchwide Assembly

ELCA Churchwide Assembly

The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the church, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. Voting members of the 2016 Churchwide Assembly took the following actions:

• Elected William B. Horne II as vice president of the ELCA. Horne, of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Fla., will begin his six-year term on Nov. 1.
• Approved the Declaration on the Way, a unique ecumenical document that marks a path toward greater unity between Catholics and Lutherans.
• Approved AAMPARO, the ELCA’s strategy to Accompany Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities.
• Approved the Ministry of Word and Service roster. Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers will be a single, unified roster of Ministry of Word and Service.
• Approved the accompanying constitutional amendments related to the Ministry of Word and Service roster.
• Adopted budget proposals for 2017 – 2019.

Voting members voted to approve the following memorials – also known as proposals – from the ELCA’s 65 synods:

• Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery
• Deepening Relationships with Historic Black Churches
• Peace with Justice in the Holy Land
• African Descent Lutherans
• Welcoming Refugees
• Toward a Responsible Energy Future
• Justice for the Holy Land through Responsible Investment
• Call to Discernment on U.S. Foreign and Military Policy
• Supporting Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families 

Voting members also voted to approved en bloc the following memorials: 

• Life of Faith Initiative
• Worship Resources to Bless Same Gender Couples
• Ministries Among People Experiencing Economic Poverty
• Examining the Opportunities and Implications of Campaign Zero, a policy platform in affirmation of Black Lives Matter
• Observation of National Donor Sabbath in Support of Organ and Tissue Donation
• Investing in and Encouraging Use of Clean, Renewable Energy
• Eco-Reformation and Renewing Creation Care Efforts
• Increase Funding for Suicide Prevention Research
• Supporting Mission Phebe Hospital through Photovoltaics
• Examining the Implications of Becoming a Sanctuary Denomination
• Time of Prayer and Worship Resources on Human Trafficking
• Gun Violence Prevention
• AMMPARO Strategy
• ELCA World Hunger and Child Nutrition
• Affirming Global Human Rights and Non-discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
• My Muslim Neighbor
• Gender Identity
• Voting Ratio
• Cultivating and Sustaining Accompaniment in Global Mission
• Youth Mission Trips