ELCA council authorizes advisory council on theological education

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Acknowledging a climate of new institutional
mergers and collaborations between seminaries and universities, new
technologies and degree program designs, economic challenges facing
students and educational providers, the Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized the formation of an advisory
council to address in a holistic way issues on theological education,
leadership development, candidacy, call and rostered leaders.
The council’s action opens a path for renewal of the ELCA’s
theological education networks, including a revitalization of work across
this church in identifying and preparing women and men “to be formed as
servant leaders” now and into the future.
According to the Rev. Jonathan P. Strandjord, director for seminaries
at ELCA churchwide ministries, it is critical that this renewal happens
in the next few years as the ELCA enters a period of a “retirement
tsunami.” About “40 percent of the roster will retire in the next 10
years,” he told the council.
“Our work in identifying and preparing new rostered leaders over
the next several years is crucial and will have a major impact for many
to come,” said Strandjord. Another “thing that really matters, at least
as much, is whether we can step up the biblical fluency of our lay
leaders in these next years.”
In its action, the council authorized the Theological Education
Advisory Council to:
+ gather board chairs and presidents of ELCA seminaries, ELCA colleges
and universities with embedded seminaries, a synod bishop from each
seminary board and others to share counsel on priorities and strategic
plans, current and new collaboration initiatives and degree program
design innovations, and to examine implications for ELCA leadership
identification and preparation systems.
+ provide periodic progress reports from the advisory council with
updates on new developments in the theological education network to the
ELCA Conference of Bishops and the Church Council with a final
comprehensive report and possible recommendations to the Church Council
by fall 2015 for possible consideration at the 2016 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly.
Speaking to the council about theological education in his report as
ELCA presiding bishop, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson asked, “How are we
preparing leaders that reflect the face of the church we are committed to
become? That takes intentionality, especially when it comes to diversity.”
Hanson told the council that there are “lively conversations taking
place regarding what the marks of missional leadership are and how we
prepare evangelical leaders who will serve the gospel and God’s mission
in a rapidly changing, increasingly connected and richly pluralistic
context.”
In a separate action, the council endorsed in concept a proposed
merger between California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif., and
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif. There are eight
ELCA seminaries and 26 ELCA colleges and universities.
The council also elected members to serve on the board of directors
for The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Pacific Lutheran
Theological Seminary, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbia, Ohio, and
to the advisory council of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary,
Columbia, S.C., as part of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, N.C. --
these two institutions merged in 2012. With the merger, Lenoir-Rhyne
established a school of theology that will include Lutheran Theological
Southern Seminary. The seminary retains its own name and identity while
integrating with the larger university system.
In the past several years, staffs of ELCA seminaries have been
working with one another and with other partners to organize their
educational administrative work in ways that advance a strong, wide-
reaching, sustainable theological education network that meets the
leadership needs of a “church in mission.” In this work, ELCA colleges
and universities have emerged as particularly important partners.
In his report to the council, Hanson said that a meeting of ELCA
college and university presidents in February “led to two working groups
developing proposals for strengthening how there can be greater
cooperation between schools and their leaders, including the development
of a statement regarding what it means to be an ELCA college or
university.” Hanson said he also met with ELCA seminary presidents and
other colleagues for an “open and honest conversation about the
challenges each school is facing and new opportunities each is
exploring,” as well as garnering feedback for a Theological Education
Advisory Council.
In other business, the council:
+ requested a review and further discussion on renewing “Book of Faith” --
an initiative that encourages ELCA members, congregations and synods to
become “fluent in the language of faith” and Scripture. The ELCA
Congregational and Synodical Mission unit, in consultation with Augsburg
Fortress Publishers, has been directed by the council to provide a report
and possible recommendations to the Church Council and for presentation
to the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly this summer.
+ recommended that voting members of the 2013 assembly adopt the text and
implementing resolutions of the proposed social statement, “The Church
and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries.”
+ recommended that the 2013 assembly approve a 25th anniversary campaign
for the ELCA as a major fundraising effort to support congregations,
leadership, relief and development and global mission. To prepare for and
support the campaign, the council designated $5 million from its reserve
funds.
+ requested that the Office of the Presiding Bishop, in consultation with
the Office of the Secretary and the Conference of Bishops, facilitate
implementation of the Addressing Social Concerns Review Task Force’s
recommendations to foster moral deliberation, to increase involvement in
the deliberative processes of this church, and to expand the use of ELCA
social teaching.
+ affirmed the work of the ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice and
granted the task force’s request to extend the time for the consideration
of a social statement on women and justice until the 2019 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly.
+ approved a revised current fund spending authorization for fiscal year
2013 of $70,731,675. The council also recommended that the 2013 assembly
adopt a 2014 current income proposal and an ELCA World Hunger income
proposal of $19 million for 2014.
+ endorsed the ELCA World Hunger Steering Committee proposal to revise
fundraising guidelines.
+ received revisions to 2013 and 2014 synod Mission Support plans.
+ requested funding for staff to guide the ELCA in observing the 500th
anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
+ affirmed in concept the draft “ELCA Philosophy of Benefits” and the
proposed health care plan design options and pricing alternatives as
presented to the council by Portico Benefit Services representatives. The
council requested final versions for the August 2013 Church Council
meeting.
+ approved and adopted amendments to the Constitution of Lutheran Medical
Center and approved and adopted the amended Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of Lutheran Medical Center -- a not-for-profit, New York-
based social ministry organization of the ELCA.
The council designated New Orleans as the site of the 2016 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly.