ELCA Church Council Elects New Executive for Administration

CHICAGO — The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met electronically on April 16. The council, which serves as the ELCA’s board of directors, took action on a variety of matters intended to advance the ministry and witness of this church.

In his report to the council, Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry spoke about his focus for his first three years in office. He emphasized that among the three churchwide priorities, the third priority — A connected church and sustainable church: Raising the bar together — will guide the work of the church through the 2028 Churchwide Assembly.

Curry highlighted the successful in-person return to office for all churchwide organization staff who live within 50 miles of the Lutheran Center in Chicago. The return to office will help advance the vision of a more connected church.

He also noted that the Vision team, now referred to as the Exploration team, will be working alongside the ELCA’s Research and Evaluation and Innovation teams on its current grant to strengthen alignment for a unified approach to future-focused work.

In key action, the council:

• Elected Rachel Wind as the churchwide organization’s executive for administration for a term that coincides with that of the presiding bishop.

• Affirmed a new Asian and Pacific Islander Ministry Strategy of the ELCA.

• Affirmed the ELCA’s commitment to support the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025-34), urging this church to seek out ways to engage in systemic transformation, including consideration of the WCC’s “pathways to climate justice.”

• Elected two people to fill council vacancies: Jeffrey Akerson, Bellevue, Neb., for a term ending August 2031, and Denise Beumer, Maitland, Fla., for a term ending August 2028.

• Approved modifications to the church’s investment policies, based on an asset allocation study.

• Ratified amendments to a consultation process for Rule D2 of “Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings Against Rostered Ministers and Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”

• Affirmed the use of resources to help synods identify candidates to serve on consultation committees.

• Approved amendment of churchwide organization personnel policies.

• Deferred consideration of the development of a social message on rural, remote communities and sovereign tribal nations until the November 2026 council meeting.

• Asked the Theological Discernment unit in the Office of the Presiding Bishop to develop a social policy resolution on the issue of abortion and to provide a recommendation to the November 2026 council meeting concerning additional resources related to the 1991 social statement Abortion.

• Approved updates to the policy “Terms and Conditions of Support for Long-term Global Personnel.”

• Appointed or elected people to fill open positions in the following bodies: the board of trustees for Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, the advisory council for Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University, the board of trustees for Luther Seminary, the board of trustees of the Mission Investment Fund and the board of directors for Mosaic Inc.

• Approved amendments to continuing resolutions, related to the audit committee, in “Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA.”

• Received reports and approved actions related to the following 2025 Churchwide

Assembly actions: “Confession of Faith in Our Time”; “A.I. in the Church”; “Immigration Detention”; “Review of ELCA Investments and Procurement”; “Stand for Palestinian Rights and End to Occupation of Palestine”; “Justice for Palestinians and Israelis”; and “Equity and Clarity in the Mission Development Process.”

The Church Council also:

• Received reports and updates from officers, the chair of the Conference of Bishops and committees of the Church Council.

• Recognized the service of the Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, interim executive for administration.

• Received updates on the Task Force on Interdependence and Purpose and the Financial Coordinating Task Force, which were established by the Church Council as recommended by the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church.

• Received an update on the reimagined candidacy process experiment.

- - -

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.7 million members in more than 8,300 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org

‍