ELCA Council Adopts Proposal for Multi-Year Emphasis on Scripture

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a proposal "for a multi-
year special focus among members, congregations and synods ... on
the authority and interpretation of Scripture." The proposed
emphasis has the working title "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the
Bible."
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 1-2.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-12,
2007.
The idea for an emphasis on Scripture originated with the
2005 ELCA North Carolina Synod Assembly, which called for an
ongoing effort to address issues "surrounding the authority of
Scripture" and principles of biblical interpretation. The synod
made the request in the form of a memorial to the 2005 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly. That assembly referred it to the ELCA
Office of the Secretary for further study in consultation with
the presiding bishop, the ELCA Conference of Bishops and the ELCA
Division for Ministry (now part of ELCA Vocation and Education),
and asked that a report and possible recommendations be presented
to the council's April 2006 meeting.
A background report and a suggested timeline for the project
were presented to the council. The suggested timeline calls for
a consultation, and development and testing of resources.
The report said a working group "developed a consensus that
the initial response should involve the members of this church in
reading the Bible, informed by resources that would help them
understand and use a Lutheran approach to the Scripture," the
report to the council said. The report said the initiative will
follow a model established by the Renewing Worship project, a
multi-year effort aimed at introducing a generation of worship
resources to the ELCA.
The working group suggested a consultation be convened by
the ELCA churchwide organization. The consultation would explore
"foundational Lutheran principles for reading and interpreting
the Bible," the report said. Speakers will be asked to address
the consultation topic, and to articulate and apply the
principles, the report said. Synod bishops, pastors, teachers,
theologians and specialists in Christian education will be
invited to the consultation.
Following the consultation, trial resources would be
developed to be tested by synods, congregations, seminaries, and
ELCA colleges and universities. An additional churchwide
consultation and a proposal for ongoing "biblical renewal" in the
ELCA are also expected, the report said.
A general-audience resource, "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read
the Bible," will be developed by the beginning of 2007. The
resource is intended to be a theological introduction to the
Bible accompanied by a study guide. It would "explain and
demonstrate Lutheran principles for reading the Bible," the
report said.
An excerpt from the resource is planned for introduction and
testing at spring 2007 synod assemblies and the 2007 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly. In fall 2007 the pilot resource is to be
offered to congregations along with training for its use, the
report said.
In fall 2008 pilot resources for the next phase of the
project, "ELCA Reads the Bible" are to be introduced.
"These study guides would encourage all members,
congregations and institutions of this church to focus on reading
and discussing selected books of the Bible using Lutheran
principles for reading and interpretation," the background report
said.
Pilot resources for "ELCA Reads the Bible" are to be
presented to the 2009 synod assemblies and the 2009 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly. Additional resources are expected to be
developed in 2009 and 2010, the report said.
The council requested that the working group continue to
refine the proposed emphasis on Scripture and asked for a
progress report, including financial implications and possible
recommendations, to be presented at the council's November 2006
meeting.

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