CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Voting members to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly Aug. 16-22 in Denver are expected to act on proposed full communion agreements with two Protestant churches, consider a proposed social statement on economic life and elect a new editor for The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA.
About 2,300 people -- including 1,039 voting members -- are registered for the ELCA's biennial assembly at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. The theme is "Making Christ Known: Hope for a New Century." The churchwide assembly is the highest legislative authority of the ELCA and represents the 5.2 million members of the ELCA, the fifth-largest Protestant denomination in the United States.
The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, will chair the assembly.
A significant issue before the assembly, which has generated some controversy in the ELCA, is the proposed full communion agreement, "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), with the 2.5 million-member Episcopal Church. It is a revision of the "Concordat of Agreement," a full communion proposal that fell six votes short of the required two-thirds for approval at the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Philadelphia.
Lutherans and Episcopalians agree on the doctrine of apostolic succession, an ongoing faithful proclamation of Christ. Episcopalians bring to the relationship the "historic episcopate," a succession of bishops as a sign of unity back to the earliest days of the Christian church. If CCM is approved, the ELCA will incorporate the historic episcopate. Many critics oppose this CCM provision. A copy of the proposal can be found on the World Wide Web at www.elca.org/ea/ccmintro.html.
This spring and summer, CCM was discussed at most of the ELCA's 64 synod assemblies, and many assemblies voted on non-binding resolutions. According to the ELCA Department for Synodical Relations and ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs, 25 synods adopted resolutions supporting CCM and four adopted resolutions specifically rejecting it.
At many of the synod assemblies, voting members also considered an alternative proposal known as the Mahtomedi Resolution. ELCA members opposed to CCM wrote the resolution at a conference earlier this year at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, Minn. It recommended "the 1999 Churchwide Assembly reject" CCM, reaffirm a commitment to work together with the Episcopal church under the guidelines of an interim agreement adopted in 1982 and welcome Episcopal clergy to serve in ELCA congregations "consistent with the ELCA's Confession of Faith" in the ELCA Constitution.
Seventeen synods adopted the Mahtomedi Resolution, two passed similar resolutions supporting ecumenical mission without the historic episcopate, and 15 synods specifically rejected the resolution.
To be approved at the churchwide assembly, CCM must be adopted by a two-thirds vote.
The assembly is also expected to consider "Following Our Shepherd to Full Communion," a full communion agreement with the 49,000-member Moravian Church in America, another Protestant denomination. The text of this proposal is available at www.elca.org/ea/fostoc.html.
Full communion agreements open possibilities for exchange of clergy and other cooperative ministries. In 1997 the ELCA assembly approved a full communion agreement with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ.
Voting members will consider a proposed social statement on economic life, "Toward Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All." The statement addresses economic issues relating to people living in poverty, matters of vocation and work, sharing resources and sustainability of the environment, agriculture and low income communities. The full text of this proposal is available on the Web at www.elca.org/dcs/suffsus.html and by fax-on-demand by calling 773-380-6555.=
The assembly is expected to hear several reports, including a proposal for the development of a social statement on health care; disabilities ministry and deaf ministry; and women and children living in poverty. The '99 assembly will also receive a report from several churchwide units that summarizes their activities on gay and lesbian issues. The 1997 Churchwide Assembly asked for this report to be presented in 1999.
In addition to elections of members to boards and committees of the ELCA, the assembly will elect a new editor for The Lutheran. The Rev. David L. Miller, 46, is the nominee expected to be considered for election by the churchwide assembly, following a process specified in the ELCA Constitution. Miller is presently senior editor of the magazine.
The Rev. Edgar R. Trexler has served as editor of The Lutheran since the ELCA's inception in 1988, and for several years before that in a predecessor church body. He announced his retirement earlier this year. The magazine's circulation is about 625,000 -- the largest among denominational publications in the United States.
The 25th anniversary of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, the=20 fund-raising arm of the ELCA's hunger program, will be celebrated at the assembly. The appeal's 1999 goal is to raise $12.6 million.
Voting members will be asked to approve budgets for the ELCA for 2000 and 2001. The 2000 budget proposal is $83.5 million, with an expanded ministry fund of $160,000 and income for its World Hunger Program projected at $12.7 million. The 2001 proposal is for an $85 million operating budget and $12.8 million in income for world hunger.
The assembly will hear reports on two of the ELCA's seven "Initiatives for a New Century" approved at the 1997 assembly: teach the faith and help the children. The other churchwide initiatives are: deepen worship life, witness to God's action in the world, strengthen one another in mission, connect with youth and young adults, and develop leaders for the next century.
In addition to business sessions, the churchwide assembly will include several services of worship and prayer, building on the assembly theme.
Friday, Aug. 20, and Saturday, Aug. 21, will feature "Hope for A New Century Festival Plaza," a "marketplace" constructed as a southwestern plaza. The Festival Plaza provides voting members and visitors an opportunity to learn about the various ministries of the church.
Materials used in constructing the plaza will be donated to Habitat for Humanity. In cooperation with Habitat for Humanity, churchwide assembly members will be invited to help build a house in the Denver area. The Hunger Bowl Project, a multi-unit effort involving students at ELCA colleges, universities and campus ministries, is designed to raise awareness for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Assembly voting members will be given bowls made by the students to build stronger connections among congregations and ELCA colleges, universities and campus ministries. The bowls are also intended to help continue awareness of world hunger and to encourage further education.
Young Lutherans will attend a youth convocation to be held in conjunction with the churchwide assembly. There will also be a convocation for young adults, running concurrently with the assembly.
Information on the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, including the agenda, can be found on the Web at www.elca.org/assembly99/.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. 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
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
