DENVER (ELCA) -- How can we use this? How can we measure this? How can we live this? These were the most prevalent questions about the proposed economic statement from the 200-plus voting members during two afternoon hearings at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly, Aug. 17.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 16-22 at the Colorado Convention Center. There are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Hope for a New Century."
The proposed social statement describes itself as a way to "assess economic life today in light of the moral imperative to seek sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all." A 15-member task force revised the first draft of the economic statement to integrate biblical and theological understandings and to be more prophetic in tone.
"This (the proposed statement) is an incredible judgment on our own folks in the pew," said the Rev. Kim Sterner, voting member from the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod, in one of the hearings. "They're going to say: 'How dare you tell me I can't have my VCR and my 40-inch screens? How do you respond to that?"
"I wish I had an easy, funny comeback for that response," replied Dr. Annette Citzler, chair of the ELCA Task Force on Economic Life. "I do hear that a lot -- not just from other people but also this inner voice in me saying that, too! I share my personal struggle when people say, 'How dare you?' I tell them that I am every day wrestling with these very same issues myself, and I challenge them to join in this struggle."
Participants voiced concerns with particular emphases in the document: the disparity between CEO salaries and laborers' wages within the same corporation, support of labor unions and requests for government legislation.
The Rev. Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld, voting member, ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod explained, "I serve on the executive board for United Way and one thing we are doing is (measuring) outcomes. We can urge, challenge, but if we have no way of measuring, nothing will change."
Terry Speese, voting member, ELCA North/West Lower Michigan Synod, spoke against the statement, saying that, "with no outcomes, there's nothing there. It's like a corporate mission statement that just looks wonderful in the office."
Others applauded the generality of the document, and how it portrayed Lutherans. "We could just quit preaching and quit reading the Bible. It's all just a statement of who we are," commented the Rev. Deborah L. Conrad, voting member from the ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod.
"It will be useful. We all can take it and use it. We have to incorporate it in the life and mission of our local congregation," said the Rev. Bruce H. Davidson, voting member, ELCA New Jersey Synod.
Participants also raised queries about unjust practices within church arenas, ranging from poor pay or "opulent pay" for pastors and church workers, to not allowing gay and lesbian pastors to live out their lifestyle, to the subtle issue of a spouse being able to work for the church at inadequate income because the other partner earns enough.
"This is a very good, prophetic voice, but how we will implement it at home?" asked the Rev. Juan Cobrda, bishop of the ELCA Slovak Zion Synod. "We don't want charity abroad, exploitation at home."
Those at the hearing requested specific methods of implementation and offered suggestions, too. "Have you talked about ways to facilitate the document?" asked Mark D. Keyl, voting member, ELCA Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod. Will there be concrete ways of pulling this off? We need it kind of written out sometimes."
People requested videos, Bible studies and curricula. Citzler responded, If this is adopted, the division can go forward to develop those kinds of resources, but as to what shape they'll take, it's premature to say. There are things out there -- scattered in Mosaic [the ELCA video magazine], The Lutheran [magazine], and bulletin inserts, if the statement is adopted, then that can be pulled together," Citzler said.
Voting members are slated to vote on the proposed social statement Aug. 20. A two-thirds vote is required for adoption. Hearings on the social statement took place Aug. 17.
"My question is, as we take our free bag and our free mug back to our three-star hotel: How does that justify the statement?" asked Betsy D. Liljeberg, voting member, ELCA Upstate New York Synod.
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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.
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