CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a proposal that it will explore the possibility of a formal consultation with leaders of large congregations in the ELCA.
The Conference of Bishops is an advisory body that includes the bishops of the ELCA's 65 synods, the ELCA presiding bishop and the ELCA secretary. The group met here Oct. 5-10.
The bishops became involved when the ELCA Church Council, which functions as the church's interim legislative authority between churchwide assemblies, asked the bishops if such a consultation would be advisable. The ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod Council asked the council to consider the idea, saying some congregations in the synod are "defining themselves beyond the parameters of the ELCA Model Constitution." The congregations want to remain in the ELCA, the synod said.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod, said some large congregations want to reserve the right to ordain and want to define the roles of the synod and bishop in the process of calling a pastor. The synod council feels it has an adversarial relationship with some of these congregations, Hanson said.
"I hate to have conversations about issues of compliance," he said. "We need to have a healthy, open conversation about how we relate to each other." Such a conversation could include issues of mission, polity and what it means to be in mission together, Hanson said.
After a brief discussion, the bishops adopted a proposal that may lead to such a consultation. The proposal was offered by the Rev. David W. Olson, bishop of the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod, also a synod with several large congregations.
The Conference of Bishops said it will invite representatives of the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, ELCA Division for Ministry, ELCA Division for Outreach and large congregations to meet with a conference committee. They will explore the possibility of a "Consultation on Mission Through Larger Congregations," the resolution said.
The resolution said the group will consider asking how the church can "steward the leadership" of large congregations and their relationship to the ELCA; the roles of lay people and staff regarding issues of church governance, ministry and ordination; and what distinctive role they may play in contributing to the mission of the church.
The bishops expect to receive a report of possible recommendations and plan to discuss those recommendations next year, the resolution concluded.
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
