INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide assembly approved four actions Aug. 12 that were the first proposals from the reference and counsel committee.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. There are nearly 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."
Lily Wu, a member of the reference and counsel committee, explained that the ELCA Church Council appoints the committee to review and recommend to the assembly proposed changes to the church body's Constitution and Bylaws. Wu, a member of the Church Council from Forest Hills, N.Y., said the committee also presents motions on proposals not submitted to the assembly by ELCA synods. The assembly's memorials committee presents synod proposals.
The first of the four reference and counsel memorials presented and approved was one that referred to the ELCA Division for Outreach a proposal to add a full-time staff member to the division to work with its director for rural networking and resources.
Other reference and counsel motions passed Aug. 12:
* Refer to the Church Council's budget and finance committee a motion that the reference year for a budget proposal be consistent with the proposed budget, and that inflation rates in budget proposals "be derived from statistically equivalent financial information;"
* Refer to the Division for Church in Society and the Division for Higher Education and Schools a proposal for the ELCA to develop and distribute free material that addresses Lutheran identity, along with a listing of ELCA Web addresses; and
* Refer to the Church Council a proposed bylaw change to the ELCA constitution that the church's vice president "serve in a stipended position." Voting members approved this as an alternative to the committee's recommendation for "disapproval" of the resolution. A rationale statement of the committee explained that the vice president position is a volunteer position, "with reimbursement of all expenses related to this position." -- -- --
Information about assembly actions is at http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site. Recorded updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
- - -
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
