CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America's (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly Aug. 11 adopted 21
amendments to the church body's Constitution and Bylaws -- 20 by
a wide margin in an "en bloc" recommendation and one separately.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11at Navy Pier's Festival Hall.
About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,069 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
The recommendation pulled from en bloc consideration is to
article 17.5 of the Constitution and Bylaws. The only discussion
on that recommendation came from Kevin Bardonner, a voting member
from Greenwood, Ind., who had requested its removal from the en
bloc recommendation; and a response to his concern from ELCA
Treasurer Christina Jackson-Skelton.
That amendment essentially adds a listing of the types of
church-related entities that are provided "investment
opportunities" through the Mission Investment Fund (MIF) of the
ELCA.
Bardonner questioned whether congregations would still be
seen as the primary focus of investments and loans if the other
groups also were listed.
Jackson-Skelton replied that the rationale for adding those
groups has to do with the need for including a "wide range" of
investment opportunities and investors via the MIF.
The voting members then adopted the separate recommendation
by a margin of 903 to 71.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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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
