ELCA Bishops Endorse Suggested Bylaw, Guidelines Related to CCM

SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) endorsed language for a suggested bylaw that, if adopted, will allow for possible exceptions to current ordination procedures in the ELCA. The bishops also debated and suggested revisions to accompanying guidelines developed by the ELCA Division for Ministry.
Should the ELCA Church Council decide to transmit such a bylaw to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, many bishops acknowledge there is work they must do for this exceptions proposal to be adopted.
The Conference of Bishops is an advisory body consisting of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. The conference met here March 1-6.
The suggested bylaw and guidelines are related to "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), a full communion agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church. The agreement enhances opportunities for shared ministries and projects, and, under certain circumstances, allows for exchange of clergy in congregations.
The proposed bylaw change and guidelines attempt to respond to some Lutherans who remain opposed to CCM. One concern is that, according to the agreement, a bishop must preside at all ordinations. Before CCM, Lutheran bishops could designate another pastor to perform an ordination, a practice which many opponents seem to prefer.
The bishops endorsed the language in the suggested bylaw with little debate. It would allow a synodical bishop "for pastoral reasons in unusual circumstances" to designate another pastor to preside at an ordination. Also, the synod bishop is to consult with the presiding bishop and seek the advice of the synod council before making a decision, the suggested bylaw says. Finally, the bylaw says the synod bishop's decision shall be "informed" by guidelines adopted by the ELCA Church Council.
The wording suggested in the bylaw was originally proposed by the Church Council last November, and put out for discussion in the church. The council is expected to discuss the possible bylaw again at its April 6-8 meeting in Chicago, and may send it for action by the churchwide assembly.
The bishops devoted considerable time to debating and suggesting carefully worded revisions in the guidelines related to the bylaw. By consensus, they removed recommendations that candidates for ordination must have been given a positive entrance decision by the synod's candidacy committee by Jan. 1, 2001, to be eligible for a possible ordination exception; that the bylaw expire following the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly; and that the presiding bishop "must" agree to an ordination under unusual circumstances before it could be authorized by the synod bishop.
The suggested revisions -- reached after frank discussions -- may address concerns expressed by both CCM supporters and critics. Many bishops said their ultimate concern now is whether a bylaw can achieve the required two-thirds majority for adoption at the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, assuming it is considered.
"This will be good news to those who are concerned, will be troubling news to those who are very much in support of CCM and will have to deal with some searching, and probably gives both sides of this issue some challenge to trust," said the Rev. Theodore F. Schneider, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod, in an interview. Schneider presented the suggested guidelines to the bishops on behalf of their committee that relates to the ELCA Division for Ministry.
Getting the necessary two-thirds majority for assembly approval of a bylaw will be an "uphill battle," Schneider said, acknowledging the matter is "very delicate." The bishops want the church to "live into the agreement," he emphasized. Some work by the bishops will be needed to achieve approval of a bylaw, Schneider said.
"The worst possible outcome is for the bylaw not to be adopted, and the church therefore have no guidelines for how it will handle those who feel they must dissent," he concluded.
The Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod, called for the bishops to trust each other in dealing responsibly with possible exceptions.
The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod, echoed Bouman's comment, adding that the bylaw should not "be a 'rear guard' action to undo what the church has done" in adopting CCM. Early in the discussions, Rogness, who was appointed to a consultation team to discuss the exceptions issue with Episcopal representatives, said the Episcopalians were more comfortable with proposals that "narrowed" the number of exceptions that with those that expanded them.
The Rev. Stanley N. Olson, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod, Redwood Falls, Minn., serves a synod where many concerns about CCM have been raised. Should a candidate for ordination want a pastor to preside at an ordination instead of a bishop, Olson pledged to present positive reasons why a bishop should preside.
"I commit to you that I will work that positive argument with every fiber of my being," he told the bishops.
Key provisions in the revised guidelines suggested by the bishops call for:
+ a candidate for ordination who seeks an exception to discuss the request with the synod bishop;
+ the synod bishop to seek the advice of the synod council and consult with the presiding bishop;
+ the synod bishop to exercise "pastoral judgment" in making a decision;
+ no appeal of the synod bishop's decision;
+ periodic evaluation of the guidelines by the Division for Ministry and review by the Conference of Bishops and Church Council.
The bishops' guideline suggestions will be returned to the Division for Ministry for further review, said the Rev. Joseph M. Wagner, executive director, ELCA Division for Ministry. Eventually the Church Council will make the decision to approve guidelines for possible exceptions.

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