ELCA Assembly Declines to Alter Studies on Sexuality Time Line
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) declined Aug. 16 to alter the time line set for the church's Studies on Sexuality process. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines...
ELCA Assembly Declines Taking Step to Larger Church Council
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) declined to begin a process that could lead to expanding the ELCA Church Council from 37 to 69 voting members -- one member elected by each of the ELCA's 65 synods plus its four churchwide...
ELCA Assembly Declines to Seek Congregational Approval of Agreements
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 15 turned down proposed constitutional amendments that would have required congregational approval for the adoption of any churchwide ecumenical agreements or standards for pastors. The assembly also declined to remove a constitutional reference to...
ELCA Assembly Elects Carlos Pena Vice President
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has elected Carlos Pena, Galveston, Texas, to serve a six-year term as vice president, the highest elected lay position in the church. "I have been called and I look forward to serving the church," said...
ELCA Assembly Greeted by Global Refuge
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Ralston Deffenbaugh, president of Global Refuge, greeted the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), stressing that support for refugees is crucial in a post- September 11 world. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is...
ELCA Assembly Votes to Join Christian Churches Together
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- During the 11th plenary session of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), voting members adopted an action to join Christian Churches Together (CCT), a new ecumenical organization. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug....
ELCA Assembly Reaffirms Work Against Racism
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 16 reaffirmed the church's efforts to work against racism. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. There are about 2,100 people...
ELCA Assembly Receives Report on Church's Studies on Sexuality
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received a progress report on the church's Studies on Sexuality. The Rev. James M. Childs Jr., director of the studies, delivered the report. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting...
ELCA Assembly Hears Presiding Bishop's Report on 'Public Church'
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- In the fourth installment of his report to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2003 Churchwide Assembly, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, focused on the new strategic direction on becoming a public church. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Social Statement on Health, Health Care
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a social statement on health and health care, "Caring for Our Health: Our Shared Endeavor." The assembly adopted the statement Aug. 15 by a vote of 935-34. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority...
ELCA Assembly Experiences Global Celebration
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Voting members attending the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) enjoyed an afternoon of international singing, dancing, praying and learning as part of a "Global Celebration" Aug. 14. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug....
ELCA Assembly Re-Elects Miller Magazine Editor
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Rev. David L. Miller, editor, The Lutheran, magazine of the ELCA, was re-elected to a four-year term. Voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted Aug. 15 with 95 percent in favor of the re-election. The churchwide assembly,...
ELCA Assembly Lifts Up Refugee Concerns
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 15 voted 875 to 63 to encourage the church at all levels to call on the United States government to admit more refugees into the country and in other ways to care for refugees,...
ELCA Assembly Vice Presidential Election Goes To Fifth Ballot
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) advanced two nominees for the position of vice president. The assembly will decide between Carlos Pena, Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, and Mary Froehlig, Southwest California Synod, on the fifth ballot Aug. 16. The churchwide assembly,...
ELCA Assembly Addresses Care for Youth, Gay and Lesbian People
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) encouraged the active participation of youth and young adults in the ELCA's Studies on Sexuality and requested that the task force overseeing the studies continue to include the concerns of young people in its work....
ELCA Leaders and Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation Leaders Meet
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) clergy standards and the church's Studies on Sexuality were topics of discussion in an Aug. 13 meeting of leaders of the ELCA churchwide organization and the Lutheran Alliance for Full Participation (The Alliance). The meeting was requested by leaders of...
ELCA Assembly Hears Hunger Report
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Lutherans strive to address chronic hunger and poverty in the United States and world as reported by the World Hunger program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Participants heard of dire need and creative response from related activities of...
ELCA Assembly Receives Youth Convocation Report
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received a report from the youth convocation under way in conjunction with the assembly. Thirty-seven youth, ages 15 to 18, are participating in the convocation. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority...
ELCA Assembly to Consider Three Candidates for Vice President
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Three candidates have advanced following the third ballot in the process of electing a vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Mary Froehlig, Southwest California Synod; Carlos Pena, Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod; and Glenndy Sculley, Minneapolis Area Synod will be placed on the fourth...
ELCA Assembly Hears Presiding Bishop's Report on Global Connections
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), emphasized the importance of global, ecumenical and interfaith connections in the third part of his report to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly. The assembly also received greetings from leaders of the Lutheran World...
