CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) recommended the 2005 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly commit the church to continue a plan to renew
worship. A part of the plan includes the production of a new
book of worship.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and
serves as the legislative authority of the church between
churchwide assemblies. The council met here April 9-11.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14,
in Orlando, Fla.
In 2000 the council set in motion a five-year process to
renew worship in the ELCA. A report with recommendations is
scheduled for presentation at the assembly this summer.
In a seven-point resolution, the council asked the 2005
Churchwide Assembly to urge congregations, pastors and other
leaders to:
+ commit the ELCA to continue steps toward the renewal of worship
+ focus on the central importance of the "means of grace"
+ foster awareness on the "relationship of worship with formation
of the faith"
+ strengthen the focus of mission in the worshipping assembly
+ acknowledge the widespread participation of Lutherans in the
church's Renewing Worship project, including the development of
provisional resources, attending worship events, testing and
responding to proposals and engaging on issues related to worship
+ direct the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop to complete the
liturgical review of proposed content for a new book of worship
in accordance with the church's established policy, work with all
expressions of the church to further the development of worship
resources and commit to ecumenical cooperation in the development
of worship resources
+ encourage the 10,657 congregations of the ELCA to reflect on
the church's gathering in Word and Sacrament and invite study
together of "With the Whole Church" as a resource for deepening
awareness of the significance of worship in the life of Lutherans
The council viewed a six-minute video that highlighted the
diversity of Lutheran worship.
The "next generation" of resources for Renewing Worship
involves the development and availability of a "whole family" of
resources that has at its center a new primary book for worship,
which will strive to bring unity while supporting variety and
flexibility in worship.
In a separate action, the council approved a designation of
$950,000 to support the introduction process of the new primary
worship resource. The money is part of a $4.5 million
designation plan -- proposed by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
presiding bishop of the ELCA -- intended to strengthen the
church's ministry commitments.
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Information about the ELCA's Renewing Worship project is
available at http://www.renewingworship.org/ on the Internet.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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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
