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INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Final actions of the voting members at the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America came Aug. 14 when they considered seven memorials and passed six resolutions of thanks. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) churchwide assembly approved a number of memorials -- resolutions from synods -- in the afternoon session Aug. 13. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Jesus is present in the poor and Christians must seek Him there, said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The bishop, who will leave office Oct. 31, preached his final sermon to a churchwide assembly at a Holy...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America acted Aug. 13 on a number of proposals from voting members that the assembly's reference and counsel committee submitted for consideration. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- By a vote of 870-105, the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a resolution requesting the presiding bishop to consult with leaders of the Episcopal Church regarding the full communion agreement of the ELCA and Episcopal Church. The churchwide assembly, the chief...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Three actions by voting members at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly on Aug. 13 will focus on examining policies and beliefs about human sexuality. Voting members requested a four-year, comprehensive study on homosexuality and asked for a plan to decide by 2005 on ordaining homosexual persons in committed...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Leaders from the Reformed Churches, the Moravian Church and the Episcopal Church, greeted the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2001 Churchwide Assembly on Saturday, Aug. 12, strengthening and supporting the voting members in their mission here in Indianapolis. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Evangelizing young adults requires church leaders willing to stretch beyond traditional worship and programs, said Desiree Quintana, a young adult who chairs an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) initiative to connect with her generation. Quintana reported progress on the initiative "Connect With Youth and Young Adults"...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide assembly approved four actions Aug. 12 that were the first proposals from the reference and counsel committee. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. There are...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop- elect of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), answered a variety of questions Aug. 12 from ELCA members throughout the church, offering a view of what they can expect from his leadership. Hanson, 54, is bishop of the ELCA Saint...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received greetings from the Rev. Patrice Rosner, director for ministries in Christian education, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC); the Most Rev. Tod Brown, chair of the bishops committee for ecumenical and...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Transformation and information came out of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2001 Churchwide Assembly's "County Fair" in Indianapolis. The County Fair was created as a midway of resources and data tucked into a dunking booth, quilts, a barn, and a variety of games that drew...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- After adding two amendments, voting members at the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a social-policy resolution on school vouchers Aug. 13. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center....

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- After two ballots, the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, 59, continues to lead in the voting for secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. (ELCA). In a report to the churchwide assembly Aug. 12, Almen, who currently serves in the position, had 546 votes on the second...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) Voting members at the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Aug.11 approved a set of "en- bloc" amendments to the church body's Constitution and one separate constitutional change that allows churchwide units to have more than one executive director, with certain approvals. The churchwide assembly,...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2001 Churchwide Assembly voted 948 to 6 to adopt the Asian and Pacific Islander Ministry Strategy presented to the assembly by the Rev. Frederick E. N. Rajan, executive director of the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries, and the...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly adopted a new evangelism strategy, "Toward a Vision for Evangelism in the ELCA." The new strategy was adopted with 99.1 percent of the voting members' approval, 965-9. The previous evangelism strategy, "A Telling Witness to...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) affirmed by a vote of 892-25 that the ELCA accept an invitation to become a "partner in mission and dialogue" with Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC). The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA,...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2001 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received a report from the young adult convocation under way in conjunction with the assembly. About 30 Lutherans -- ages 18 to 30 -- are participating in the convocation. The churchwide assembly,...

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are learning discipleship through new programming, said the Rev. David Poling-Goldenne, director for education and evangelism, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries. His comments were part of a report to the ELCA 2001 Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the...