ELCA Assembly Accepts Plan For a New Worship Book, Materials
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The 4.9 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will have a new book of worship. Under the church's "Renewing Worship" project, the book will be at the center of a family of worship resources designed to bring unity in worship expressions while...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Restructuring Proposal
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Voting members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly adopted an implementing proposal to restructure the churchwide organization, under the report named "Faithful, Yet Changing: Design for Mission through the Churchwide Organization of the ELCA," here Aug. 10. The proposal was adopted with...
ELCA Secretary Advises Assembly To 'Keep Your Eye On The Horizon'
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Lowell G. Almen, secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), drew on images of a flight attendant telling an anxious passenger on a turbulent air flight to "keep your eye on the horizon" and the coordinated movements of a swimmer as advice...
ELCA Assembly Poised for Discussion of Sexuality Proposals
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Voting members at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were formally presented with three three recommendations on questions related to homosexuality Aug. 10. The recommendations, which originated with the Studies on Sexuality task force, were forwarded by the 37-member...
ELCA Assembly Holds Hearings On Sexuality Recommendations
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) had their first chance to ask questions and make comments on controversial recommendations related to homosexuality and ministry in two hearings Aug. 9. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...
ELCA Assembly Receives 'Renewing Worship' Report, Recommendations
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- A special project to renew the worship life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was presented to voting members of the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Aug. 9. The presentation included a report with recommendations on "Renewing Worship" -- a five-year, five-phase approach to determine...
ELCA Assembly Hears Presiding Bishop's Report
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson engaged voting members and guests in reflecting on the church's identity and mission in his report Aug. 9 at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the...
ELCA Assembly Hears Bible Study From Trinity Professor
ORLANDO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark A. Powell, professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio led the first of a series of Bible studies at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the...
Bishop of ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod Welcomes Assembly
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Edward R. Benoway, bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) welcomed voting members and guests of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly to Florida Aug. 8 at the opening of the first plenary session. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Rules Of Procedure
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) - After four hours of debate, the "Rules of Organization and Procedure" for the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were adopted in the assembly's first business session Aug. 8. The "standing" rules describe the composition, functions and responsibilities of the churchwide...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Says 'Walking On Water Is Permitted'
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- At opening worship of the 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, told Lutherans that "walking on water is permitted but not required at this assembly." The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative...
ELCA Presiding Bishop: 'See The Fullness Of This Church'
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The 2005 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will focus on worship, Bible study and prayer, while voting members engage in "thoughtful and respectful conversation" about a variety of legislative matters, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. Hanson, who...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Highlights Churchwide Assembly Issues
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), highlighted issues to be considered by the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, including ethnic ministry strategies and sexuality proposals in a news conference here Aug. 8. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative...
ELCA Financial Position 'Satisfactory'
ORLANDO, FLA. (ELCA) - Christina Jackson-Skelton, treasurer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said the church's financial position is satisfactory. She made her remarks in a report to the ELCA Conference of Bishops and ELCA Church Council here Aug. 7. The bishops and council gathered on the eve...
ELCA Council Places Trust In Voting Members On Recommendation Two
ELCA Council Places Trust In Voting Members On Recommendation Two CWA-01-05-MRC ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed its "trust and confidence" in voting members of the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to discern what "pastoral care" implies concerning same-gender relationships and...
ELCA, Tommy Nelson, Inc., Initiate Agreement
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Through a new agreement between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Tommy Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tenn., select original episodes of "Davey and Goliath" are now available on DVD for the public in the Christian retail market. Davey and Goliath is a classic stop-motion animated television...
Lutherans To Celebrate Global Mission In Baltimore Aug. 25-28
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Hundreds of Lutherans will come to the Baltimore Convention Center to learn more about what's happening in the world and how Lutherans are active in it. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will host a Global Mission Event (GME) Aug. 25-28. Offered every summer by the...
Communion Ware Journeys from Bethlehem to Orlando ELCA Assembly
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Communion ware made in the Holy Land will be used during the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly's worship services Aug. 8-14 in Orlando, Fla. Using communion ware from Bethlehem is "to remind people that God's desire for the whole world includes justice and peace,...
Bishop of ELCA Southeast Michigan Synod Resigns, Accepts New Call
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robert A. Rimbo, bishop of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), announced his resignation as bishop in a July 18 letter to the synod's leaders. Rimbo's resignation is effective Aug. 31, at which time he will leave to serve...
Lutherans Address Food Crisis in Niger, Africa
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are participating in international relief efforts to address the food crisis in Niger, a country in western Africa. An estimated 3.6 million people -- about 30 percent of the population of Niger -- are in critical need of...
