ELCA Assembly Receives Palmer’s Words of Love
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Bishop Gregory V. Palmer of the United Methodist Church (UMC) shared words of love in his homily at the Communion Service Aug. 20 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug....
ELCA Assembly Hears ELCIC Bishop's Words of Solidarity
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The futures of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) are similar, said the Rev. Susan Johnson, ELCIC national bishop. "Sometimes the future looks very uncertain and very scary," Johnson said, "But the final reality is that this is...
ELCA VP Says He’s Willing to Serve Second Term
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- When Carlos Peña reached College Station, Texas, from his home in Galveston, Texas, seeking refuge from Hurricane Ike last September, he started to receive phone calls from family and friends. The calls were from people from all over the state asking if he was okay and if...
ELCA Assembly Continues Through Severe Weather in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Strong winds and heavy rain damaged the 90-year-old metal steeple at Central Lutheran Church here and damaged a section of the roof of the Minneapolis Convention Center, the site of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). There were no immediate reports...
ELCA Assembly Adopts 'Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust'
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" with a vote of 676 (66.67 percent) to 338 (33.33 percent) on Aug. 19. The passing of the social statement on human sexuality required a two-thirds vote. The churchwide...
ELCA Assembly Begins Balloting for Vice President
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly began the process of electing a vice-president today. On the nominating ballot, potentially the first of five, voters failed to give any candidate the required 75 percent needed. With 899 legal ballots cast, incumbent Carlos Peña...
ELCA Assembly Urged to Continue Strong Support of Military, Veterans
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- On a hot, sunny day in Iraq the Rev. Harry W. Griffith, an ELCA chaplain and commander in the U.S Navy Chaplain Corps received an unusual gift: 3,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Wednesday he urged the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to continue supporting the armed forces,...
ELCA Assembly Urged by LYO to Address Racial, Sexuality Issues
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are leaders, said Nicolette Faison, newly elected president of the Lutheran Youth Organization LYO of the ELCA. Faison spoke to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly during Wednesday morning's plenary session. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...
ELCA Assembly Hears Secretary’s Priorities
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – In his first report to an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly, ELCA Secretary David D. Swartling thanked colleagues for their support in the two years since he was elected to the post and laid out several priorities. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority...
ELCA Assembly Hears Finances Remain Positive
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) treasurer told the ELCA churchwide assembly Aug. 19 that while the overall financial picture for the churchwide organization has been positive in the last two years, the economic downturn has lately meant adjustments to the national church’s budget. Treasurer Christina...
ELCA Assembly Votes to Raise $10 Million for HIV, AIDS Strategy
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted 884 to 41 to raise $10 million dollars to support the ELCA HIV and AIDS strategy. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 17-23 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. About...
ELCA Assembly Endorses Immigration Reform
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Aug. 19, to urge reform in the nation’s current immigration policy. By a vote of 870 to 67, voters agreed to urge comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration policies and processes, and to call...
ELCA Assembly Told of Possibilities for Lutheran Malaria Initiative
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The work of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative is already saving lives in Africa, the Rev. John A. Nunes, president and CEO, Lutheran World Relief, told the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA,...
ELCA Assembly Begins Discussing Proposed Social Statement
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Speakers opposing the social statement on human sexuality facing the Evangelical Church in America said they believed that endorsing the document would abandon the church’s reliance on the Bible and separate the Lutheran denomination from the majority of Christendom. But those favoring the document to be voted...
ELCA Assembly to Consider $10 Million Fundraising Campaign for HIV and AIDS
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) needs to become more knowledgeable and active when it comes to HIV and AIDS, said Cynthia Halverson, executive director of the ELCA Foundation and Development Services. Halverson was among those who spoke to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly about the...
ELCA Assembly Begins Work on "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust"
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" -- a proposed social statement on human sexuality -- was formally introduced to the 1,045 voting members of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 18. The Rev. Peter Strommen introduced the statement which, if approved...
'Jubilee' Weekend Advances ELCA Book of Faith Initiative
ST. PAUL, Minn. (ELCA) -- Some 285 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) came from across the United States to the Book of Faith "Jubilee" weekend and joined in conversation about an initiative in the ELCA to read and discuss the Bible. Displays of resources supported worship,...
ELCA Assembly Host Synods Celebrate Diversity, Present Assembly with Gift
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The diversity of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is well-represented by the Minneapolis Area and Saint Paul Area Synods, said the Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the Saint Paul Area synod and the Rev. Craig E. Johnson, bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod. The churchwide...
ELCA Assembly Defeats Super-Majority Requirement
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members of the biennial assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America turned back a motion that would have required a two-thirds majority for changes in policies related to the rostering of clergy, associates in ministry, diaconal ministers and deaconesses. The vote, with 57 percent in...
ELCA Assembly Asked, What’s ‘Our Witness?’ by Presiding Bishop
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), asked “What shall be our witness this week?” in his oral report to the ELCA’s eleventh biennial Churchwide Assembly here on Aug. 18. He suggested at least 15 ways the 4.6 million...
