ELCA Bishops Offer Suggestions on Churchwide Restructuring Proposal

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) held a wide-ranging
discussion on a proposal for the future design of the churchwide
organization, which was announced by the Office of the Presiding
Bishop Sept. 15. The bishops commented on specifics of the
proposal, its timing and implementation, and how the churchwide
organization could improve its governance.
The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a
bishop. The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body to the
church, consisting of the church's 65 synod bishops, ELCA
presiding bishop and ELCA secretary. The conference met here
Oct. 2-6.
The proposal is to eliminate 41 of about 500 staff positions
and create 18 new staff positions under a new structure. The
ELCA would retain three offices; its six divisions would become
five departments; the work of its two commissions would be
deployed to several strategic areas in the organization; its
current six departments would become service units of the
offices, and several new service units would be created.
The proposal is to phase out the existing boards of
divisions, steering committees of commissions and advisory
committees of departments. It asks the ELCA Church Council to
develop amendments to the ELCA Constitution, eliminating boards
and steering committees, for presentation to the 2005 Churchwide
Assembly.
The church council is the ELCA's board of directors, and
serves as the interim legislative authority between churchwide
assemblies, the church's chief legislative authority.
This fall the churchwide organization is gathering comments
from the church on the proposal. On Oct. 21 leaders of the
churchwide organization will meet and refine the proposal, said
the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. From there it
will go to the Church Council for action. The council will meet
Nov. 13-16 in Charlotte, N.C.
Hanson encouraged the bishops to comment on the proposal.
"The more creative, the more imaginative the suggestions are, the
better off we'll be," he said.
In his remarks to the bishops, Hanson said one of the
realities driving the reorganization and reduction in spending is
a continuing decline in income to the churchwide organization.
Even if there were no restructuring proposal, the churchwide
organization would have to deal with the loss of programs and
positions because of the current income decline, he said.
Hanson reminded the bishops that the restructuring proposal
is a result of a nearly two-year listening process in which staff
sought comments on the church's mission from members throughout
the church. From those conversations five strategic directions
emerged, and the proposed structure is intended to align the
churchwide organization with those directions, he said. The
directions are: support congregations; grow in evangelical
outreach; be a public church; extend global, ecumenical and
interfaith relationships; and support professional leaders.
Since the proposal was announced and employees learned of
the fate of specific programs and people, Hanson said, it had
been "a very, very difficult period of time for churchwide
staff."
Early criticism of the proposal has been legitimate, Hanson
said. Hanson said he wished he had met earlier with churchwide
unit heads whose positions were proposed for elimination "to
affirm their gifts of leadership."
"I have apologized for that," he said. Hanson also said he
wished there had been better communication with people of color,
especially about concerns related to the ELCA Commission for
Multicultural Ministries (CMM). Under the proposal, the work of
CMM is to be deployed into several strategic areas, including a
staff person in the presiding bishop's office.
Hanson acknowledged that some people perceive the proposal
as a "power grab" by the presiding bishop since responsibility
for multicultural ministries, women in church and society, world
hunger and poverty ministries and worship are proposed to be
moved into his office.
"I certainly understand that perception," he said. Hanson
said he is not interested in centralizing power, but that he
views these functions "as central to my call." It is important
to bring responsibilities related to the whole church into the
presiding bishop's office, since the bishop is called to oversee
the work of the churchwide organization, Hanson said.
Since it was formed, the ELCA has had a commitment to
enhance the roles of women in the church, and seek to be
multicultural and anti-racist. CMM and the Commission for Women
are charged with those responsibilities. The Commission for
Women is proposed to be eliminated as is CMM, but Hanson
emphasized the work of both is to be redirected to other places
in the churchwide structure.
Under the proposal churchwide governance will change. Most
boards and advisory committees that relate to churchwide units
are to be eliminated.
"We need a more lively, interactive way of bringing
resources in and out of this church," Hanson said. The
restructure proposal suggests the use of "roundtables," which
will bring together consultants from throughout the church to
discuss and advise the church on specific topics, Hanson said.
Hanson emphasized that the proposal attempts to mold the
churchwide organization into more of a "living organism," he
said.
In his report the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary,
emphasized that the strategic planning process, including
restructuring, is a four-year process and not a six-week
endeavor. That involves listening, developing proposals for
restructuring and living into a new structure, including
constitutional amendments that must be adopted by the 2005
Churchwide Assembly. He emphasized that many of the functions of
the churchwide organization are moved into other places in the
proposed structure and are not being completely eliminated.

Bishops Comment, Respond to Proposal
The ELCA synod bishops responded to the restructure proposal
in a series of sessions throughout their meeting. While many
offered opinions on a wide variety of specific programs, most who
spoke did not want action on restructuring proposals to be
delayed into next year, as some in the church have suggested.
Many of their comments included:
+ Schools: Under the proposal, the churchwide organization
would no longer relate to childhood, elementary and secondary
schools. That relationship would be maintained through an
alliance or through the Evangelical Lutheran Education
Association.
The church "can't minimize the pain, the shock" of this for
ELCA schools staff, said the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of
the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod. The staff has worked for
20 years to "make the case" for schools, he said. "Do we have a
plan for schools? Do we really want them out of the building?"
Bouman said.
The Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration and
executive assistant to the presiding bishop, suggested the plan
could create a stronger churchwide relationship with schools.
+ Unfunded mandates: The Rev. William C. "Chris" Boerger,
bishop of the ELCA Northwest Washington Synod, Seattle, said he
is concerned about "unfunded mandates" that would become synod
responsibilities. He cited examples such as ministry in daily
life, social ministry and education in social justice.
+ Outdoor, campus ministry: Under the proposal, the
churchwide organization would maintain a limited relationship
with camping and outdoor ministries, to be phased out by 2005.
After that, an alliance for Lutheran outdoor ministries would be
formed. Campus ministry would be moved to a new Department for
Youth, Education and Lay Leadership.
"I have a concern about camping and campus ministry," sai