ELCA Assembly Adopts Restructuring Proposal

ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Voting members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly adopted an
implementing proposal to restructure the churchwide organization,
under the report named "Faithful, Yet Changing: Design for
Mission through the Churchwide Organization of the ELCA," here
Aug. 10. The proposal was adopted with 83 percent of the votes
in favor.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the World Center Marriott
and Convention Center. About 2,300 people are participating,
including 1,018 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial
assembly is "Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever."
Eliminating the Commission for Women through the newly
adopted restructuring was the main concern among voting members
about the new design. At both the hearings and in the assembly's
session, the Rev. Gwendolyn King, ELCA New England Synod, shared her
concerns on losing the Commission for Women. King pointed out
that the commission was largely responsible for the increase of
women clergy from African descent in the ELCA. In the hearing on
the restructure design, King said this elimination "is a set-up
for failure."
During the assembly business session, the Rev. Charles
Miller, ELCA executive for administration, responded to King's
concern by explaining that many surveys, input from interest
groups, synod assembly discussions and other discussions led to
the decision to "go down new roads" for urgent tasks. Miller
explained that commissions were created to undertake "urgent
tasks." The Commission for Multicultural Ministries was the
other commission of the church.
"Every unit will have designated staff to work with justice
for women," said Miller. There will be an "internal alliance"
offering "a philosophy that underlines the current approach to a
new approach," he said.
The assembly is still working on proposals related to the
Commission for Women. Assembly action is expected at a later
time during the assembly.
In presenting the proposal at the assembly, Carlos Pena, ELCA vice president, and Janet Thompson, chair of the Planning
and Evaluation Committee of the ELCA Church Council, reported to
voting members and visitors at the churchwide assembly on the
'satisfied' governance of the church and a new churchwide
restructuring proposal.
"Research shows that most members are satisfied with the
current governance system," Pena said. However, he added that it
is the Church Council's intent that their proposals will help
strengthen the current governance system.
Pena led applause as he thanked his fellow officers and the
Church Council for their hard work and efforts. He also thanked
the voting members for showing their commitment to the church and
to fellow Lutherans.
Thompson discussed the process, goals, design and cultural
changes integral to the restructure proposal. Thompson said the
four goals included in the restructuring process are: 1) To align the shape of the organization with the five strategic directions and four
commitments for implementation; 2) To functionally integrate
those units whose work closely coincides; 3) To lift up
commitment to multicultural ministries; 4) To position the
churchwide organization to do what either only the churchwide
organization can do or what the churchwide organization does
best.
Three types of units are in the approved design for mission,
said Thompson. They are program units, offices and service
units. The program units are Evangelical Outreach and
Congregational Mission, Global Mission, Multicultural Ministries,
Church in Society, and Vocation and Education. Two separately
incorporated program units are Augsburg Fortress Publishing and
Women of the ELCA. The three offices are the Ofice of the
Presiding Bishop, Office of the Secretary and Office of the
Treasurer, and include all of the responsibilities currently
assigned to each office. The service units are Communication,
Development Services and separately incorporated Mission
Investment Fund and Board of Pensions, Thompson said.
Reorganization will start immediately and be completed by the
start of the fiscal year, Feb. 1, 2006.
The Church Council wants the churchwide office to be "a
climate where people are collaborative and supportive of each
other," Thompson said.
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* Kirsten H. Boettner is a senior communication major at Luther
College, Decorah, Iowa. This summer she is an intern with the
ELCA News Service.
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Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.elca.org/assembly/05 on the Web.

For more information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news