ELCA Assembly Hears Treasurer's Report
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The financial status of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was reviewed by the ELCA treasurer, Christina L. Jackson-Skelton, in her report to the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Fiscal news was positive overall, but coupled with caution for upcoming years. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Reports on Congregational Strategic Direction
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- In the second part of his report, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), focused on the new strategic direction supporting congregations. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the...
ELCA Assembly Hears from LCMS President
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, told the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) today that scheduled theological discussions will be important for improving relationships between the two church bodies. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority...
ELCA Assembly Discusses Progress on Church's Studies on Sexuality
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Some voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed the progress of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality and the work of the church's task force overseeing the studies at an Aug. 12 hearing. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative...
ELCA Assembly Reviews 2004-2005 Budget
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) had their first opportunity to discuss the proposed 2004-2005 budget Aug. 12. The Church Council recommended that the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly approve a 2004 current fund fiscal year income proposal of...
ELCA Churchwide Assembly Hears Report of the Church Council
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Actions taken by the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis were reviewed by Dr. Addie J. Butler, ELCA vice president, as she presented the report of the Church Council to the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly....
Task Force Presents Health Care Statement to ELCA Assembly
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) today was presented with a proposed social statement on health, healing and health care for action later this week. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at...
ELCA Assembly Hearing on Rural Ministry Alliance
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Rural leaders from across the country gathered for a hearing on the Plan for Rural Ministry Alliance at the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Sandra LaBlanc, ELCA director for rural networking and resourcing, explained the details of the plan to nearly...
ELCA Assembly Encourages Negotiated Solution in Holy Land
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 12 voted overwhelmingly to encourage a negotiated solution in the Holy Land and to endorse a declaration signed last year by religious leaders in the Holy Land that calls for an end to violence there....
ELCA Assembly Learns about Evangelism Strategy
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- "Sharing Faith in a New Century: A Vision for Evangelism in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" was presented Aug. 12 to the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center....
ELCA Assembly Holds Evangelism Strategy Hearings
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- During the hearing sessions of the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Aug. 12, voting members were able to discuss with one another questions and concerns about the proposed evangelism strategy of the church. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...
ELCA Honors Vice President Addie J. Butler
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) - Upon completion of six years of service as vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Dr. Addie J. Butler was presented with the Servus Dei Medal at the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The Servus Dei Medal is given to honor retiring officers of the...
ELCA Assembly Honors Zimbabwe Church, Early American Lutherans
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The ELCA Churchwide Assembly today remembered the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe and the life and work of two pastors important in early American Lutheran history. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. There...
ELCA Assembly Hears First of Presiding Bishop's Reports
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, presented the first of the ELCA's new strategic directions, evangelism outreach, at the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Each day of the assembly the presiding bishop will focus on one of the strategic directions....
ELCA Assembly Adopts Rules of Organization, Agenda
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Voting members at the first plenary session of the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted rules of organization and the week's agenda, offered acclamation for the presiding bishop's opening homily and were welcomed by the host synod. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is...
ELCA Bishops Discuss Mission Support Needs
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Conference of the Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed declining mission-support funds to the churchwide organization from synods, and asked its executive committee to develop a plan for continuing discussion on the topic. The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body,...
ELCA Council Elects Advisory Committee Members
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The church council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected three people to the advisory committee for "The Lutheran," the magazine of the ELCA. Council members elected the three Aug. 10, in their meeting preceding the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Aug. 11-17. Elected to six-year terms...
Presiding Bishop Offers Overview of ELCA Assembly
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- At an Aug. 11 news conference, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA Presiding Bishop, and ELCA Vice President Addie J. Butler highlighted the ELCA strategic plan, the studies on sexuality and the importance of lay leadership. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is...
ELCA Council Delays Establishment of Two Commissions
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized a delay in requests for the establishment of an ELCA commission for "sexual minorities" and a commission for "children and families" until the churchwide organization's strategic plan is implemented. The Church Council is the ELCA's...
ELCA Treasurer Expresses Concern For Mission Support Decline
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- Mission support income to the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was $26 million through June 30, a decrease of $1 million from one year ago and $1.5 million lower than budgeted. The decrease of funds from congregations through synods "continues to be...
