CHICAGO — The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met electronically on Nov. 12. The council, which serves as the ELCA’s board of directors, took action on a variety of matters intended to advance this church’s mission and ministry.
In his report, Presiding Bishop Curry told the council of his decision to announce an in-person return to work for two days per week for all churchwide organization staff who live within 50 miles of the Lutheran Center in Chicago. Curry said his decision for the return to the workplace — expected to begin Feb. 1, 2026 — was made in consultation with the churchwide organization administrative team and other churchwide organization leaders.
In key action, the council:
• Adopted “Child Protection” as an official social message of the ELCA.
• Authorized reconsideration of identified sections in the social message “Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment” (1990).
• Directed the Theological Discernment unit in the Office of the Presiding Bishop to begin development of study resources related to social teaching on white supremacy.
• Revised the spending authorization for fiscal year 2026 from $61,500,000 to $63,150,000.
• Approved recommendations for the churchwide organization, synods and congregations to support educational debt relief for rostered ministers, particularly rostered ministers who are women and/or members of historically under-represented groups. This action is in response to the final report of the Educational Debt Task Force, which was appointed by the Church Council in 2022.
• Authorized the Executive Committee to assess and respond to a request from the Endowment Fund of the ELCA (the ELCA Foundation).
• Approved revisions of “Manual of Policies and Procedures for Management of the Rosters of the ELCA” related to amendments to the ELCA constitutions approved by the 2025 Churchwide Assembly.
• Elected the Rev. Ralph Dunkin, Wheeling, W.V., to the Church Council for a six-year term ending August 2031. He fills a vacancy left by the Rev. Daniel Collins, who has resigned.
• Approved amendments to ELCA churchwide organization personnel policies.
• Appointed and elected members to fill vacancies on the following: Audit Committee; Committee of Hearing Officers; Committee on Appeals; board of directors for Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University; board of trustees for United Lutheran Seminary; council liaison to the Corporate Social Responsibility review team.
• Approved amendments to continuing resolutions in “Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA” related to governance of the new Association of Synod Vice Presidents.
• Approved amendments to the restated bylaws of the board of pensions of the ELCA.
• Approved new health plan benefit options and proposed amendments to the ELCA Medical and Dental Benefits Plan, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
• Received reports and updates from the church officers and council committees.
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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 2.7 million members in more than 8,400 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
