ELCA Assembly Completes Action On Final Resolutions

ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly acted on recommendations for
resolutions presented by the Reference and Counsel Committee here
Aug. 13 and 14.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the World Center Marriott and
Convention Center. About 2,300 people participated, including
1,018 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly
was "Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever."
+ By vote of 842-14, the assembly adopted a recommendation
to refer a motion to the new Vocation and Education unit in
collaboration with the new Evangelical Outreach and
Congregational Mission unit to begin a one-year process to study
a biblical approach to starting new mission congregations. The
conclusion of the study is to be shared with congregations, with
consideration by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to determine
biblical models to use during new missions. A report and
possible recommendations are to be shared at the April 2006
Church Council meeting.
+ By a vote of 475-324, the assembly adopted a
recommendation to refer to the Office of the Presiding Bishop and
Office of the Secretary a proposal to create an independent
advisory panel for assembly voting members, called the
"Procedural Reference Bureau." A report and possible
recommendations are to be brought to the April 2006 Church
Council meeting.
+ By a vote of 723-157, the assembly adopted a
recommendation to refer to the Office of the Presiding Bishop in
consultation with the ELCA Conference of Bishops, a motion to
have the Church Council implement a process to assess the merits
of electing bishops by ecclesiastical ballot. A report and
possible recommendations are to be brought to the November 2006
Church Council meeting.
+ By a vote of 790-128, the assembly adopted a
recommendation to refer to the Office of the Secretary a proposal
that would ensure that at least two nominees for the Church
Council are younger than 30 years of age and older than 24 years
of age, and that at least two Church Council nominees are younger
than 24 years of age. A report and possible recommendations are
to be brought to the April 2006 Church Council meeting.
A second motion on youth representation was adopted by 758-
52, that encourages each ELCA synod to send at least one youth
representative voting member to future churchwide assemblies.
+ By a vote of 867-31, the assembly adopted a recommendation
to refer a proposal to the new Vocation and Education unit, in collaboration with the Office of the Presiding Bishop, that the
ELCA affirm that people with disabilities have a valuable
perspective, and will seek and invite their participation in the churchwide organization's five program units and two separately incorporated program units. A report with possible recommendations
is to be shared at the April 2006 Church Council meeting.
+ A motion that the assembly reconsider its decision related
to the ELCA Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine was
defeated by a 451-376 vote on Aug. 14. Voting members
implemented a campaign, "Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in
the Holy Land," with a 668-269 vote on Aug. 13. The campaign is
a primary component of the strategy adopted by the ELCA Church
Council.
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Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.elca.org/assembly/05 on the Web.

*Kirsten H. Boettner is a senior communication major at Luther
College, Decorah, Iowa. This summer she is an intern with the
ELCA News Service.

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