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...
ELCA Assembly Hears Mission Investment Fund Report
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has experienced strong growth in its 15-year history according to the Rev. Arnold O. Pierson, MIF vice president, in a report to the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The Mission Investment Fund enables individuals, ELCA...
ELCA Assembly Hears National Council Of Churches President
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Elevnie K. Huszagh, president, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC), addressed voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Aug. 14. Huszagh is an attorney and a member of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America. She...
ELCA Assembly Affirms Ministries in the Middle East
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 14 affirmed by a 910 to 64 vote the church body's support for Lutheran ministries in the Middle East. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Evangelism Strategy
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted "Sharing Faith in a New Century: A Vision for Evangelism in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" Aug. 13. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17...
ELCA Assembly Begins Process to Elect New Vice President
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) - The election of a new vice president for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is underway at the 2003 Churchwide Assembly. After the second ballot, seven individuals will move forward to be considered for this position of leadership in the churchwide organization. The churchwide assembly, the...
ELCA Secretary Addresses Assembly, Emphasizes Anniversaries
(ELCA) -- The Rev. Lowell G. Almen, secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), addressed voting members at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, emphasizing the importance of anniversaries within congregational life. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest...
