Role of the Church Council

Freed in Christ to Serve

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is comprised of the four churchwide officers and 33 additional voting members from throughout this church elected by the Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide officers serve as voting members of the Churchwide Assembly by virtue of their office. Unless elected as voting members by their synods, the remaining members of the Church Council serve as advisory members of the Churchwide Assembly with voice but not vote.

In accord with the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA, the Church Council is the “interim legislative authority” between meetings of the Churchwide Assembly. In this role, the Church Council reviews recommendations from churchwide units for consideration by the Churchwide Assembly, arranges for appropriate elections, adopts policies, considers a budget proposal for churchwide assembly action, and oversees the work of the churchwide organization. At the Churchwide Assembly, members of the Church Council are present to advise voting members on Church Council actions related to these responsibilities. In addition to its advisory function, the Church Council appoints members of the Memorials Committee and the Committee of Reference and Counsel. Members of the Church Council chair these committees and make up a portion of the members. Church Council members also provide leadership by facilitating the hearings and leading prayer during plenary sessions.

How does a matter get placed on the assembly agenda?

There are several routes to the agenda of the Churchwide Assembly. Items can be requested by previous assemblies. Any Churchwide Assembly can recommend that an item under consideration be brought to a later assembly.

Memorials from synod assemblies also bring items to the assembly agenda. The Memorials Committee receives memorials submitted by synod assemblies during the biennium and prepares recommended responses for consideration by the Churchwide Assembly. 

The Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA also places certain matters before the assembly such as the election of churchwide officers and members of the Church Council, boards and program committees.

Voting members may include items on the agenda by submitting resolutions in accordance with the rules of the assembly. The Committee of Reference and Counsel reviews these resolutions and makes recommendations for possible action by the Churchwide Assembly. For more information on resolutions see Memorials and Resolutions.