ELCA Assembly Welcomes LCMS President
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The president of The Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod urged the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to ground in Scripture its initiatives under consideration at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly this week. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11at Navy...
ELCA Assembly Hears Variety of Greetings from Ecumenical Guests
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Leaders of three ecumenical partners of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) thanked the church body Aug. 9 for its role with their agencies. They also brought greetings to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here...
ELCA Assembly Greeted by Global Refuge
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr. told the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that the nation is filled with fear of the stranger. Deffenbaugh, president of Global Refuge, delivered greetings Aug. 9 on behalf of LIRS -- a cooperative...
ELCA Assembly Sends Memorials on Same-Sex Blessings to Task Force
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA voted 733-278 to refer memorials on the blessing of same-sex relationships to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality. The Task Force is engaged in developing a social statement on human sexuality to be presented to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly....
ELCA Assembly Hears Nominees for ELCA Secretary
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Eight candidates for the post of secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed the churchwide assembly Aug. 9, prior to the third ballot that is likely to narrow the field to three candidates. The eight candidates were the top vote-getters on the second ballot...
ELCA Assembly Hears About, Recommits To Lutheran Anti-Hunger Efforts
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Following reports from the World Hunger Program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran World Relief (LWR) on Aug. 9, the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly committed denomination members and congregations to renewed efforts to reach and surpass a goal of $25 million in annual...
ELCA Assembly Extends Full Communion Relationship with Moravian Church
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) extended the ELCA's full communion partnership with the Moravian Church in America to the East Western Indies and the Alaska Provinces of the Moravian Church in America during the 7th plenary session Aug. 9. The...
ELCA Assembly Casts First Ballot for Secretary
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Michael L. Cooper-White, president Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.), was the highest vote-getter on the first ballot cast for secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). A total of 161 people received votes in what was a nominating ballot for the ELCA...
ELCA Assembly Hears Final Report of Secretary
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Through a videotaped report to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's churchwide assembly here Aug. 8, the Rev. Lowell G. Almen gave an overview of his 20 years of experiences as the church body's first secretary. Almen, 65, will leave office Oct. 31. The churchwide assembly, the chief...
ELCA Assembly Hears Report on Church Engagement in Justice for Women
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Attention to justice for women is being furthered in the activities and the manner of conducting ministry across the ELCA according, to the "Report on Justice for Women" presented to the 2007 Churchwide Assembly. Since a restructuring of the churchwide organization in 2005, the way the denomination...
ELCA Assembly Receives Report on Financial Status of the Church
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received reports Aug. 8 on the financial status of the denomination and of the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11...
ELCA Assembly Reminded by Keynote Speaker to Pay Attention to Women
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, general secretary of the World Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA),brought the keynote address to the 2007 Churchwide Assembly. Celebrating in the midst of challenge, using our knowledge to be prophetic and committing to change, were among her themes. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative...
ELCA Assembly Expresses Concern for Genocide in Darfur
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Lutherans around the nation should study the situation in Darfur and advocate to U.S. officials in order to seek an end to the killing that many call a genocide in the African region, said a resolution adopted here Aug. 8 by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical...
ELCA Assembly Hears Presiding Bishop's Report
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In his report to the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 8, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, defined what leadership means for a "sent church." Calling the voting members and others of the assembly "leaders," Hanson...
ELCA Assembly Hears Update on Evangelism Strategy
CHICAGO (ELCA) - With four years of implementation, the Evangelism Strategy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has stimulated activity in key areas such as prayer, leadership preparation and renewal, discipleship teaching and congregation starts and renewal. The 2007 Churchwide Assembly heard an update on "Sharing Faith in a...
ELCA Assembly Hears Message of 'The Apostle Paul'
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Bible studies -- when pastors and theologians parse the texts of Scripture, analyze original languages and find applications of the Bible passages for modern times - are staples of church meetings. But Dr. David Rhoads, professor at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), didn't do any...
ELCA Assembly Opposes Escalation of Iraq War
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The highest legislative assembly of the 4.8 million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America declared its opposition to "any escalation of the war" in Iraq and called upon the U.S. government to "take immediate and comprehensive steps to end the violence and establish a peaceful, stable, and...
ELCA Assembly Hears Bible Study Focused on Human Sexuality
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Participants of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) opened the fifth plenary session with a Bible study focusing on the topic of human sexuality through the study of the verses 1 to 10 of the first chapter of Galatians. The Bible...
ELCA Assembly Hears Chaplain Thank Church for Privilege to Serve
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A Lutheran military chaplain termed it "a privilege to receive ... affirmation on behalf of all federal chaplains," as he received a standing ovation today from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting...
ELCA Assembly Affirms 'Evangelical Lutheran Worship'
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- "Evangelical Lutheran Worship" was affirmed as the church's primary worship resource by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Aug. 7. "This recommendation to affirm Evangelical Lutheran Worship commits the ELCA to renewing worship in the world in which we are called...
