Information for Voting Members
Below are questions frequently asked by assembly voting members.
You will be receiving emails with information to help you prepare for your role as a voting member. In the weeks leading up to the assembly, you will be invited to become familiar with the bulletin of reports and other preparation material by checking the assembly website at ELCA.org/churchwideassembly or the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Guide once that app is available.
Registration is now closed. Voting members who need assistance can contact the CWA Registrar at CWARegistrar@elca.org.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly Guide (also known as 2025 Churchwide Assembly Guide, or CWA Guide for short) is a mobile app for tablets such as an iPad. The guide was commissioned by the churchwide organization as an eco-friendly alternative for accessing documents and resources for the 2025 Churchwide Assembly. It is available to anyone and will have up-to-date information that can be accessed before and during the assembly by using any iOS (Apple) or Android tablet with access to the internet. All attendees are asked to participate in orientation and CWA Guide training on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 1 p.m.
The 2025 Churchwide Assembly Guide will be made available in early summer 2025.
No, you do not need to purchase a tablet (e.g. iPad). When registration opens, you can choose to use an ELCA-issued iPad during the 2025 Churchwide Assembly. More information about using the CWA Guide is in the CWA Guide FAQ section. Prior to the assembly, you can access the guide through a personal device.
Yes, you are allowed to bring family members with you. However, the ELCA does not pay for any costs incurred by family members. Voting members should contact Dana Adams, director for meeting management, by email to discuss travel arrangements and expenses related to booking air travel for your family member(s). Since voting members are sharing rooms, you will need to request a single (aka private) hotel room and pay for half the costs if you wish to stay in the same hotel room as your family member(s). The cost is one-half of the room rate plus tax, per room, per night, which is $84.99, tax included. This amount will be invoiced to you.
Meals for guests were required to be purchased during the assembly registration process, which closed May 31. Visitors are welcome to support the local restaurants and businesses. Doing so is also an opportunity to appreciate the local and Indigenous cuisine in the area.
Voting and advisory members can expense only the items listed on the expense report form. If you are driving, you can be reimbursed at the current IRS rate for mileage, along with the cost of tolls and self-parking, up to the amount of the lowest available advance airfare. Original, itemized receipts are required for reimbursement.
Voting members and advisory members can purchase off-site meals with their ELCA-issued meal card.
The expense form is available here: elca.org/Resources/Financial#ExpenseReport.
After completing the online expense form with a signature and with all original, itemized receipts attached, please email the documents to cwaregistrar@elca.org. All expenses must be submitted for reimbursement within 30 days of the assembly and no later than Sept. 5, 2025. Forms submitted after Sept. 5 will not be processed.