ELCA Assembly Hears from Young Adult Convocation
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Young Adult Convocation reported to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). During its report, young adult participants told voting members of the distinction between youth and young adults and spoke about the role of young adults in the ELCA. The...
ELCA Assembly Receives Greetings from Ecumenical Guests
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- During the 10th and 11th plenary sessions of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), several denominations and other religious organizations extended their greetings to assembly voting members. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug....
ELCA Assembly Declines Exception on Installation of Bishops
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 16 declined to propose constitutional changes requested by two ELCA synods that would permit those seeking installation as bishops in the ELCA to do so without the participation of bishops in the "historic episcopate."...
ELCA Assembly Considers "Listening Posts" for Gay, Lesbian People
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) considered a motion designed to encourage the 5 million-member church to organize "listening posts" for the purpose of hearing the experiences of Lutherans who are gay and lesbian. The assembly voted to refer the motion...
ELCA Assembly Adopts 2004-2005 Budget
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted budgets for 2004 and 2005 Aug. 16. For 2004, the budget was approved at current fund fiscal year income of $84,310,000, and World Hunger income was approved at $16,250,000. For 2005, the budget was...
ELCA Assembly Defeats Ratification Proposal for Constitutional Amendments
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 16 defeated 205-701 a proposal to require a majority of its synod assemblies to ratify any amendments to the ELCA constitution. Assembly voting members followed that action with a 649-229 vote in favor of...
Former Presiding Bishop Says Time Has Arrived For Policy Change
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- About 150 people attended a "Festival Worship" service Aug. 15 here, led and attended by people who want the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to be more welcoming to people who are gay and lesbian, and want the church to change its expectations for ordained pastors....
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,...
