CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a revised policy for relationships of churchwide units with independent Lutheran organizations.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide assemblies. The council met here April 5-7. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee.
Last year, the council delayed action on requests from organizations which sought recognition as independent Lutheran organizations. The delay came at the request of the council's program and services committee, which questioned the meaning of such recognition. The council asked the ELCA Office of the Secretary to consult with others about the designation and bring a report with possible recommendations back to the council.
The revised policy adopted by the council provides for acknowledgment of an independent Lutheran organization in relation to a specific unit of the ELCA churchwide organization, said Brian D. Rude, council member, Coon Valley, Wis. Rude, who chairs the council's Legal and Constitutional Review Committee, presented the proposal.
Documents about the relationship of the organization and the churchwide unit are to be filed with the Office of the Secretary, the revised policy said. It also calls for an annual review of the acknowledged relationship.
In a separate and related action, the council referred three requests by organizations for acknowledgment to churchwide units under terms of the revised policy. A request from Lutherans Concerned/North America was referred to the ELCA Division for Outreach; a request from the Lutheran Renewal Organization was referred to the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries; and a request from Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry was sent to the Division for Global Mission.
In other actions, the council:
+ approved a request to transfer $395,300 from an expanded ministry fund to the Office of the Presiding Bishop to assist in the strategic planning process. The funds will be used to support a significant strategic planning process underway within the church. This spring, participants at ELCA synod assemblies will be asked for input into the process. A Web site has been established at http://www.elca.org/planning/ for comments and suggestions, said the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. Recommendations that may result from the process are expected to be presented to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly.
+ made plans to meet in a retreat to focus on strategic planning July 27-28 in conjunction with the ELCA Global Mission Event in Minneapolis.
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
