INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America acted Aug. 13 on a number of proposals from voting members that the assembly's reference and counsel committee submitted for consideration.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. About 2,500 people are participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."
Voting members approved a committee recommendation to refer to the ELCA Division for Church in Society a motion to develop a social statement on education. The resolution also requests the division to submit a report and recommendation on the subject to the April 2002 meeting of the ELCA Church Council, allowing time for the proposed study to be considered for staffing and budget needs.
The original motion specified that the study address "the numerous accomplishments and concerns of education in the United States and its territories" and asks that it be presented at the 2005 churchwide assembly.
Another assembly action agreed with a committee suggestion to decline certain proposed identical constitution changes related to the installation of ELCA synodical bishops.
The proposal would have applied to the installation of a newly elected synodical bishop who objects "to installation in the historic episcopate." It would have allowed that "said objection [be] honored by the appointment of an appropriate bishop to preside for the newly elected bishop's installation."
The Rev. Theodore Schneider, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod, was one of several speakers supporting the committee's recommendation.
Schneider said he viewed the original motion as "conscientious objection to installation in the historic episcopate" and a threat to "Called to Common Mission," the full communion agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church.
In a matter brought to the assembly by the ELCA Church Council, a change was approved to the "Model Constitution for Congregations" that deals with "the required vote on the possible termination of the call of a congregation to a pastor."
It has to do with situations when the pastor and congregation do not agree with decisions made by their synod bishop and a special committee that has studied "alleged local difficulties that imperil the effective functioning of the congregation."
Before the change, the constitution said that a congregation may dismiss the pastor "by a two-thirds majority vote" at a congregational meeting "after consultation with the bishop." The new provision adopted by the assembly calls for a two-thirds vote to dismiss a pastor when the congregation does not agree with the recommendation of the bishop and the special committee, and a simple majority vote when there is agreement. ----
Information about assembly action 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
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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
