ELCA Church Council Takes Action for 2025 Churchwide Assembly

In key action, the council received the final report and recommendations of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC). In response to its recommendations, the council:

• Directed the Office of the Secretary to explore collaborating with ELCA full communion partners, as neutral parties, to develop processes independent of the churchwide organization to resolve conflicts within this church.

• Voted to establish a task force on interdependence and purpose to assess the ELCA’s statements of purpose, current governance structures and how those structures have or may have perpetuated systemic inequities, and to recommend changes to the current synod structure.

• Encouraged rostered ministers, congregations and synods to identify and share existing resources on congregational management and governance.

• Adopted a continuing resolution that establishes the ELCA Association of Synod Vice Presidents.

• Adopt the proposed social statement Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All and its proposed implementing resolutions. Creation of the social statement was authorized by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly.

• Approve the following triennial budget proposals: (1) a current fund-spending authorization of $61,500,000 for 2026; (2) a current fund-income proposal of $56,915,000 for 2027 and $56,320,000 for 2028; (3) an ELCA World Hunger spending authorization of $21,550,000 for 2026; and (4) an ELCA World Hunger income proposal of $21,300,000 for 2027 and $21,050,000 for 2028.

• Adopt additional bylaw amendments to “Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA” to allow for exchange of deacons with certain full communion partners and to establish additional standards for rostered ministers.

In other action, the council:

• Authorized the ELCA Theological Discernment team to review and bring to the November 2025 Church Council meeting a recommendation on the request for a social message on white supremacy.

• Adopted continuing resolution amendments to “Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA” that relate to the churchwide organization.