Lutherans Begin Season of Synod Assemblies

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Thirty of the 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) completed their annual assemblies between March 25 and June 1; the remaining assemblies will be completed by July 9. The first 30 assemblies addressed a wide range of subjects, including an ecumenical proposal for The Episcopal Church, the blessing of same-gender relationships, the safety of children and world hunger. Six synods elected or re-elected bishops.
Traditionally business is light at synod assemblies in the years between the ELCA's biennial churchwide assemblies, but most of the synods reacted to a decision of the 1999 Churchwide Assembly to adopt "Called to Common Mission" (CCM) -- a Lutheran proposal for "full communion" with the Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal General Convention will consider the proposal when it meets July 5-14 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. With Episcopal approval, the necessary changes to the churches' governing documents would take effect Jan. 1, 2001.
Among other things, full communion would make it possible for the ELCA and The Episcopal Church to exchange clergy and commits them to work together on future mission and service projects.
Some Lutherans continue to oppose CCM because the ELCA would accept the historic episcopate, which is a requirement in The Episcopal Church for the exchange of clergy. ELCA bishops would be installed by bishops who stand in a succession of bishops reaching back to the earliest days of the Christian Church. For Lutheran pastors to enter the historic episcopate, they must be ordained by a bishop.
Synod resolutions ranged in their reaction from declaring the "freedom to receive or reject the historic episcopate" to celebrating the Lutheran proposal and praying the Episcopal convention adopts CCM.
The Eastern North Dakota Synod Assembly, the first synod assembly of the year, resolved March 24 to "fully support the right of its constituent members, congregations, pastors and bishops to freely accept or reject local implementation of an historic episcopate."
On April 9 the ELCA Church Council offered guidance to synods that may consider resolutions similar to the Eastern North Dakota Synod resolution. "While resolutions of a synod assembly seeking changes in this church's governing documents are in order, resolutions of a synod assembly pledging to support or undertake actions in violation of this church's governing documents are not in order," the council said.
The ELCA Conference of Bishops issued a pastoral letter March 6. "As we gradually live into a relationship of full communion, we invite the exploration of possible ways to allow a synodical bishop, in unusual circumstances and with appropriate consultation, to authorize another ELCA pastor to preside at an ordination," it said.
Most of the 30 synod assemblies reported action on CCM resolutions. Six expressed support for the proposal and another three defeated resolutions opposing the proposal. Eleven called for exceptions to the Lutheran proposal, such as those suggested by the Conference of Bishops.
On other topics, the Greater Milwaukee and Southeast Michigan Synods resolved "that a committed relationship be defined as one where there is love, quality, faithfulness and endurance and mutual uplifting of spirits." They went on to recognize and affirm "the blessing of such committed same-gender relationships by pastors of this synod after counseling with the couple seeking such a blessing."
The Virginia Synod resolved to begin a time of prayer, study and conversation on the subject of blessing same-gender relationships. The synod resolved to bring a resolution to its 2001 assembly that will call for churchwide consideration of the subject.
Several synods made commitments to discuss issues related to the church and the sexual orientation of its members and clergy. The Northeastern Ohio Synod, by a 171-138 vote, asked the ELCA to establish a Commission on Sexual Minorities. The Sierra Pacific Synod asked its bishop to "do everything possible within church guidelines to avoid the expulsion of University Lutheran Chapel from the ELCA," which has called an openly gay pastor not on the ELCA roster of clergy.
Many synods adopted resolutions encouraging their congregations to join the ELCA's Campaign for Safe Havens by declaring themselves to be "Safe Haven" for all children. The resolutions offer several ways to do that: "working toward a Christ-centered, positive environment for children in families, congregations and communities; praying for the well-being of all children but in particular for the poorest and most at risk; developing creative programs to meet the needs of children in the congregation and community with special emphasis on those who are hungry, homeless, abused, lonely and subject to violence; advocating in support of public policy that advances the well-being of children and their families and in opposition to policies that harm them; and working collaboratively with other congregations, Lutheran social ministry organizations and other groups that strive to help children thrive."
Many of the assemblies also passed resolutions renewing their synod's efforts in fighting hunger locally and globally. Most of those resolutions challenged the congregations to increase their giving to the ELCA's World Hunger Appeal.
The Saint Paul Area Synod asked the ELCA for a message on the victimization of youth by the "sex industry." The Northeastern Minnesota Synod called for more resources from the church to study the issue.
The Greater Milwaukee, Northern Great Lakes and Southern Ohio Synods passed resolutions urging congregations to expand their "earthkeeping ministries" and to "work vigorously to slow the impact of global warming."
The New Jersey Synod supported a moratorium on the death penalty and opposed the expansion of gambling in New Jersey.
The Saint Paul Area Synod called for an end to economic sanctions against Cuba and Iraq.
The Grand Canyon Synod asked the ELCA to develop and fund mission opportunities at home and abroad for Lutherans between the ages of 18 and 22.
Two synods elected new bishops to succeed retiring bishops. The Rev. Kevin Scott Kanouse will succeed the Rev. Mark B. Herbener as bishop of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod. The Rev. Ray Tiemann will succeed the Rev. James E. Bennett as bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod.
Synod assemblies re-elected four bishops: the Rev. Roy G. Almquist, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod; the Rev. Allan C. Bjornberg, Rocky Mountain Synod; the Rev. Robert W. Mattheis, Sierra Pacific Synod; and the Rev. Floyd M. Schoenhals, Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod.
Six synods elect bishops in June. Five of the six elect new bishops to succeed retiring bishops. Bishops serve six-year terms. -- -- --
The ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs is providing links to information about synod assembly actions dealing with "Called to Common Mission" from http://www.elca.org/ea/resolutions/index.html on the ELCA Web site.

EDITORS: ELCA News & Information plans to issue a second news release in
July recapping the remaining synod assemblies. The Slovak Zion Synod
will hold the last assembly planned for this year July 7-9 at Elizabeth
University, Convent Station, N.J.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html