ELCA Assembly Opens Ministry to Partnered Gay and Lesbian Lutherans
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) - The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted today to open the ministry of the church to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships. The action came by a vote of 559-451 at the highest legislative body...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Comments on Decisions Regarding Ministry Policies
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- With debates closed and decisions made, the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States has voted to allow Lutherans in same-gender relationships to serve as pastors of congregations and serve in other professional leadership roles. This will result in a change in current ministry policies of the...
ELCA Assembly Hears Message of Unity from Ecumenical Partners
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Ecumenical partners of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gave messages of thankfulness and prayer to attendees of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly during "Please know of our gratitude of you and prayers for you as you meet this week," said the Rev. John Thomas, general minister...
ELCA Assembly Discusses Ministry Policies
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Lutherans have been discussing their beliefs about human sexuality since the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 21 years ago. The discussion continues at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in anticipation of an action that may allow Lutherans in same-sex relationships to serve as...
ELCA Assembly Completes Second Ballot for Vice President
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly failed to elect a vice president on the second ballot. Voting took place Aug. 20. Incumbent Carlos Peña led on the second ballot with 657 votes. There were 686 votes required for election on the second...
ELCA Assembly Takes Steps to Implement Social Statement on Sexuality
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have been asked to implement the newly adopted social statement on human sexuality by continuing the study of sexuality, assist members to welcome peole who are gay and lesbians, encourage comprehensive sex education programs in public schools, support the...
ELCA Assembly Welcomes Tour de Revs at Final Stop
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Three pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) set out on a mission 100 days ago -- to end hunger and poverty in the world by raising $5 million for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. "Our tour was not about records, but about revelation, revolution...
ELCA Assembly Action Draws Sharp Criticism, Praise from Advocacy Groups
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Two groups with widely diverging opinions on the social statement adopted Aug. 19 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America praised the church for its action and denounced what some consider a departure from biblical morality. “The church has supported families of all kinds and has acknowledged...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Full Communion with the United Methodist Church
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- By a vote of 958-51, the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a full communion agreement Aug. 20 with the United Methodist Church (UMC). This is the ELCA’s sixth full communion relationship and the first for the UMC. The assembly also adopted...
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...
