ELCA Assembly Acts to Strengthen the Church's Financial Future

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Striving to strengthen the future
financial resources of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly accepted a report with
recommendations Aug. 10 from the ELCA Blue Ribbon Committee on
Mission Funding -- a committee appointed to study the funding
policies and practices of the ELCA.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, met here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About
2,000 people participated, including 1,069 ELCA voting members.
The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing
Grace: Thanks be to God!"
Since 2006 the Blue Ribbon Committee studied mission support
-- funds from congregations through synods to the churchwide
organization -- stewardship education, planned giving, designated
and restricted giving all aimed at strengthening the ELCA's
finances.
From its study the committee developed a report -- "Mission
Flowing from God's Abundance" -- that includes a history on
patterns of giving in the ELCA and its predecessor church bodies,
a description of the pattern of decline in mission support, a
theology of stewardship, a philosophy of mission funding, mission
support outcomes and goals.
With a 623-52 vote, the assembly received "with gratitude"
the report of the Blue Ribbon Committee, commended the content of
the report for study and reflection throughout the church, and
fostered a renewed commitment to "vigorous mission-support
efforts." These efforts include the examination of best
practices for mission funding, evaluation of stewardship
education programs, education of financial stewardship for new
professional church leaders, and dissemination of regular,
concise communication on mission interpretation.
With an 811-154 vote, the assembly amended the resolution to
include a proposal -- for presentation to the 2009 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly -- that calls for the development and
implementation of a resource to "help congregations assess their
responsible and accountable use of God's resources commended to
their care."
John Litke, voting member, ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod,
offered the amendment. "The motion, as stated, talks a lot about
income and it talks a lot about giving. But stewardship, by the
report's notes, also includes a more comprehensive understanding
how all of us, individuals and congregations, make full use of
the resources entrusted to our care," he said, adding that he
advocates for a resource to guide congregations on making "the
most effective use of our resources," particularly when the
financial "survival of a congregation" and benevolence suffers.
Another amendment designed to encourage congregations to
share with synods and the churchwide organization a minimum of 10
percent of their mission support, with planned annual increases
of at least 15 percent, was defeated with a 139-535 vote.
The idea to create the Blue Ribbon Committee originated with
the ELCA Conference of Bishops, an advisory body of the church
consisting of the 65 synods bishops, secretary and presiding
ELCA Assembly Acts To Strengthen The Church's Financial Future
07-CWA-MRC

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Striving to strengthen the future
financial resources of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly accepted a report with
recommendations Aug. 10 from the ELCA Blue Ribbon Committee on
Mission Funding -- a committee appointed to study the funding
policies and practices of the ELCA.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, met here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About
2,000 people participated, including 1,069 ELCA voting members.
The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing
Grace: Thanks be to God!"
Since 2006 the Blue Ribbon Committee studied mission support
-- funds from congregations through synods to the churchwide
organization -- stewardship education, planned giving, designated
and restricted giving all aimed at strengthening the ELCA's
finances.
From its study the committee developed a report -- "Mission
Flowing from God's Abundance" -- that includes a history on
patterns of giving in the ELCA and its predecessor church bodies,
a description of the pattern of decline in mission support, a
theology of stewardship, a philosophy of mission funding, mission
support outcomes and goals.
With a 623-52 vote, the assembly received "with gratitude"
the report of the Blue Ribbon Committee, commended the content of
the report for study and reflection throughout the church, and
fostered a renewed commitment to "vigorous mission-support
efforts." These efforts include the examination of best
practices for mission funding, evaluation of stewardship
education programs, education of financial stewardship for new
professional church leaders, and dissemination of regular,
concise communication on mission interpretation.
With an 811-154 vote, the assembly amended the resolution to
include a proposal -- for presentation to the 2009 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly -- that calls for the development and
implementation of a resource to "help congregations assess their
responsible and accountable use of God's resources commended to
their care."
John Litke, voting member, ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod,
offered the amendment. "The motion, as stated, talks a lot about
income and it talks a lot about giving. But stewardship, by the
report's notes, also includes a more comprehensive understanding
how all of us, individuals and congregations, make full use of
the resources entrusted to our care," he said, adding that he
advocates for a resource to guide congregations on making "the
most effective use of our resources," particularly when the
financial "survival of a congregation" and benevolence suffers.
Another amendment designed to encourage congregations to
share with synods and the churchwide organization a minimum of 10
percent of their mission support, with planned annual increases
of at least 15 percent, was defeated with a 139-535 vote.
The idea to create the Blue Ribbon Committee originated with
the ELCA Conference of Bishops, an advisory body of the church
consisting of the 65 synods bishops, secretary and presiding
bishop of the church, and a proposal was approved by the Church
Council in November 2005.
- - -
Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
bishop of the church, and a proposal was approved by the Church
Council in November 2005.
- - -
Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.

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