by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) voted to allow synodically authorized ministers to
officiate at marriage services where such a practice is permitted
by law. The council, which met April 1-2 in Chicago, said such
ministers may only officiate at marriage services for members of
the congregations in which they are authorized to serve, with the
concurrence of the congregation and approval of the synod bishop.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as
the legislative authority of the church between churchwide
assemblies. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is in
Chicago Aug. 6-12, 2007.
In November 2005 the council requested a report and
recommendations on the subject from the former ELCA Division for
Ministry (now part of a combined ELCA Vocation and Education) in
consultation with the ELCA Conference of Bishops. Two of the
church's 65 synods -- the ELCA Northern Great Lakes Synod and the
ELCA Southwestern Texas Synod -- had requested that the church
consider allowing synodically authorized ministers to perform
marriage services, in part because increasing numbers of small-
membership congregations are not served by ordained ministers.
The new policy is part of a larger document, "Policy and
Guidelines Related to Synodically Authorized Ministries of Word
and Sacrament."
The Church Council
http://www.ELCA.org/secretary/governance/council.html
churchwide assemblies
http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/
Vocation and Education
http://www.ELCA.org/vocationeducation/
ELCA Conference of Bishops
http://www.ELCA.org/synods/bishops.html
ELCA Northern Great Lakes Synod
http://www.nglsynod.org/
ELCA Southwestern Texas Synod
http://www.swtsynod.org/
"Policy and Guidelines Related to Synodically Authorized
Ministries of Word and Sacrament."
http://www.ELCA.org/ministry/synodauthorizedministry/index.html
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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
