by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) is expected to consider a proposal "for a multi-year
special focus among members, congregations and synods of the ELCA
on the authority and interpretation of Scripture," when it meets
in Chicago April 1-2. The proposal was presented for discussion
and review to the ELCA Conference of Bishops, which met March 2-7
in Lake Geneva, Wis.
"I think it's time for a major churchwide initiative on
revitalizing the Scripture within the ELCA," the Rev. Mark S.
Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, told the conference. The Rev.
Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, said if accepted by the council
the initiative should be a "broad, serious process" in the church
for years to come.
The idea for a churchwide emphasis on the authority and
interpretation of Scripture originated with the ELCA North
Carolina Synod, Salisbury, which called on the 2005 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly to develop a plan for addressing scriptural
authority and interpretation. The assembly referred the synod
memorial to the ELCA churchwide organization for development of
recommendations to be presented to the council next month.
Links:
Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) http://www.ELCA.org/secretary/governance/council.html
ELCA Conference of Bishops
http://www.ELCA.org/synods/bishops.html
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/
The Rev. Lowell G. Almen http://www.ELCA.org/secretary/almen.html
ELCA North Carolina Synod http://www.nclutheran.org/
2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/05/
synod memorial
http://www.ELCA.org/ScriptLib/CO/ELCA_News/encArticleList.asp?article=3173
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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
