CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will ask the ELCA Conference of Bishops for advice on whether there is a need for a consultation on congregations that do not want to follow the requirements of the church's constitutions for congregations, synods and the churchwide organization.
The council met here April 7-9. It functions as the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The next assembly is Aug. 8-14, 2001, in Indianapolis.
The council also asked that the ELCA secretary convey the bishops' advice to the council's Legal and Constitutional Review Committee for a report to the council's November 2000 meeting.
The council's action came in response to a resolution from the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod Council, which requested a consultation on required provisions in the ELCA model constitution for congregations. The Saint Paul Area Synod is one of the ELCA's 65 synods.
Some congregations are "defining themselves beyond the parameters of the ELCA Model Constitution" for congregations, the synod said. It also noted more congregations are expected to submit constitutions not in compliance with required provisions of the ELCA but want to remain in the ELCA.
The council acted on several other issues during its meeting:
+ The council requested a report on Ministry Among Persons in Poverty (MAPP) be prepared for the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. In 1999 the council allocated $3 million in reserve funds for domestic and international ministries to people in poverty.
+ The council asked for a progress report on the function of the "rural desk." In 1998 the council asked the ELCA Division for Outreach to create a churchwide staff position that would relate to people in rural areas and their concerns. The council's request for a report comes on the two-year anniversary of its decision. In 1999 Sandra A. LaBlanc was named the ELCA's director for rural ministry resources and networking. Her office is in Des Moines.
+ It approved a spending authorization for the 2000 fiscal year of $83,375,000, including an expanded ministry fund of $160,000. The action also approved a spending authorization of $14 million for the church's world hunger programs this year.
+ The council referred a resolution from the ELCA Western Iowa Synod Council and asked for a report and possible recommendations at its November meeting. The Western Iowa council resolution encouraged "development and publication of guidelines and procedures" dealing with "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), a Lutheran proposal for full communion with The Episcopal Church. The ELCA adopted CCM in 1999; the Episcopal Church will consider the proposal this summer.
The resolution called for "publication of a clear explication of the theology of ordination as currently practiced in the ELCA" and encouraged the council "to facilitate the process of exploring possible ways to allow a synodical bishop, in unusual circumstances and with appropriate consultation, to authorize another ELCA pastor to preside at an ordination, as suggested by the Conference of Bishops' pastoral latter dated March 6, 2000."
The council referred the resolution to the ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs and the ELCA Division for Ministry.
+ It affirmed a plan developed by several churchwide units to provide four annual grants totaling $70,000 from domestic hunger money for the American Indian and Alaska Native Committee of the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries. The grants are intended to assist in ministry related to hunger and poverty. The World Hunger Appeal is supporting the effort through establishment of an American Indian and Alaska Native Fund, to be promoted through the appeal's material and in a churchwide response catalogue.
+ The council discussed and approved a possible name change for the ELCA Southern California (West) Synod to the ELCA Southwest California Synod. The council's approval is "contingent on a formal request" from the synod assembly and the official recommendation of the Church Council on proposed bylaw amendments at the 2001 Churchwide Assembly.
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
