ELCA Assembly Reflections From Presiding Bishop, Bishops' Conference Chair
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), closed the 2005 Churchwide Assembly with words of thanks, hope and expectations here Aug. 14. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the...
ELCA Assembly Elects Council, Program Committee, Board Members
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Voting members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly elected leaders to serve on the Church Council, program committees and boards. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the World Center Marriott and Convention Center....
Lutherans Initiate Response To Wisconsin Tornadoes
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is working with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Milwaukee, to provide assistance to people affected by a series of tornadoes that struck in south-central Wisconsin Aug. 17. Most seriously affected was Stoughton, Wis., where at least one person was...
Lutheran Theologian, Teacher, Author, Gerhard O. Forde Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Gerhard O. Forde, a leading Lutheran theologian, retired seminary professor and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died of pneumonia Aug. 9 in St. Paul, Minn., after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 77. "One can't overestimate the power and...
ELCA Assembly Completes Action On Final Resolutions
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly acted on recommendations for resolutions presented by the Reference and Counsel Committee here Aug. 13 and 14. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the World Center Marriott and...
ELCA Assembly Learns About the 'Miracle Of Distance Healing'
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Rev. E. Roy Riley Jr., told voting members and guests of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that "we pretty much mastered the miracle of distance healing." The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here...
ELCA Assembly Hears Thanks For Action on Refugee Ministries
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr., president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), Baltimore, brought greetings to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2005 Churchwide Assembly today and thanked the ELCA for actions it took to expand ministries that welcome refugees. LIRS is a national, inter-Lutheran...
ELCA Assembly Declines To Expand Church Council
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) defeated a proposal to expand the ELCA Church Council to 69 members by a vote of 464-505 Aug. 13. The amendment needed a two-thirds majority for adoption. The amendment, introduced by the Rev. Peter...
ELCA Assembly Approves Budgets for 2006 and 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved budget proposals for 2006 and 2007 Aug. 13 with no discussion on points of the proposals. However, voting members did bring up the need for more emphasis on tithing, especially from pastors and...
ELCA Assembly Celebrates Women In Ministry
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) - All women in ministry were honored at a banquet Aug. 13 at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This year marks the 35th anniversary of the ordination of Lutheran women. The Rev. Elizabeth Platz was ordained Nov. 22, 1970, in...
ELCA Hears Bible Study From 'Grace Matters' Host
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA)--The Rev. Peter Marty, in his Aug. 13 Bible study for the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), focused on grace in Jesus Christ as the way to deal with fatigue, even for those burned out on religion. The churchwide assembly, the chief...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Six Memorials
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Voting members at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted six memorials Aug. 13 that related to a social statement on bioethical research; refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants: faithful conversations about Scripture; a mission- support covenant; HIV and AIDS education;...
ELCA Assembly Acts on Final Three Memorials
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA)--The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) acted on three memorials at the assembly's final session Aug. 14 -- the last of 12 offered separately to the assembly by a memorials committee. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met...
ELCA Assembly Receives World Hunger Report
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) - The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) heard reports from the World Hunger Appeal and Lutheran World Relief (LWR) during its business session Aug. 13. These efforts are some of "the strongest aspects of our shared ministry," said Carlos Pena, ELCA...
ELCA Assembly Hears LSA Leader
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) - The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) heard greetings from Jill M. Schumann, the president of Lutheran Services in America (LSA), an umbrella organization for nearly 300 independent Lutheran health and human service organizations in 3,000 communities across the United States...
ELCA Assembly Hears Report on the 'New' Augsburg Fortress
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) - "There is a new energy transforming Augsburg Fortress," President and CEO Beth Lewis told the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Aug. 13. Augsburg Fortress is the publishing ministry of the ELCA, based in Minneapolis. The churchwide assembly, the chief...
ELCA Assembly Greeted By Global Partners
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA)-- The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received greetings from the global Lutheran community early in their business session Aug. 13. Representatives from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), and Lutheran Church of Sierra Leone (ELCSL) addressed...
ELCA Assembly Receives 'Young Adult Convocation' Report
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- With a message of unity and commitment to "inter-generational conversation" members of the Young Adult Convocation delivered a report Aug. 13 to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting...
ELCA Assembly Receives Greetings From Roman Catholic Church
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Joint Declaration on Justification has "become a point of reference" for Roman Catholics in their ecumenical conversations, said Bishop Stephen Blaire in his greetings to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) on Aug. 12. Blaire is bishop of diocese...
ELCA Assembly Receives 'Fund For Leaders In Mission' Report
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Voting members and guests of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) learned that the church's Fund for Leaders in Mission has awarded $1.7 million to 135 students studying at the eight seminaries of the ELCA. The churchwide assembly, the chief...
