by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) received a primer on how social statements of the ELCA are
developed. Social statements are policy documents of the church
that address significant social issues. The ELCA is currently
developing social statements on education, genetics and human
sexuality. The council is the ELCA's board of directors and
serves as the legislative authority of the church between
churchwide assemblies. It met April 1-April 2 in Chicago.
In November 2006 the Church Council will act on revisions to
policies and procedures that guide how the ELCA addresses social
concerns. The council's role in the development of social
statements includes recommending and endorsing topics of social
concern, approving texts of social statements and providing
recommendations for churchwide assemblies to adopt social
statements. An assembly's adoption of a social statement
requires a two-thirds vote.
"ELCA social statements are the envy of the ecumenical
community," said the Rev. Rebecca Larson, executive director,
ELCA Church in Society. Social statements "have stood the test
of time," she said, adding that they are "deeply theological" and
"serve as an educational tool." Larson and the Rev. John R.
Stumme, director for studies, ELCA Church in Society, presented
the primer.
The Church Council
http://www.ELCA.org/secretary/governance/council.html
social statements of the ELCA
http://www.ELCA.org/socialstatements
education
http://www.ELCA.org/socialstatements/education
genetics
http://www.ELCA.org/dcs/genetics.study.html
human sexuality
http://www.ELCA.org/faithfuljourney
policies and procedures
http://www.ELCA.org/socialstatements/procedures
churchwide assemblies
http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/03/work_of_assembly.html
ELCA Church in Society
http://www.ELCA.org/churchinsociety
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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
