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MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Attendees of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church America (ELCA) heard messages about the service and mission of organizations that work in collaboration with the ELCA and other Lutheran denominations. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug....

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA)-- Voting members of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a 2010 current fund income proposal of $76.69 million for the churchwide organization, and an ELCA World Hunger Appeal income proposal of $18.7 million. They also approved a current income proposal...

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2009 Churchwide Assembly approved all recommended amendments to ELCA Constitutions, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions that the ELCA Church Council recommended for endorsement. All were approved with more than the two-thirds of votes required for passage. The churchwide assembly, the chief...

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly gave strong affirmation Aug. 20 to the ministry of a disaster response agency it supports jointly with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). By a vote of 529 to 20, voting members affirmed the ministry of Lutheran...

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are in the middle of taking steps to make it possible for the Lutherans in same-gender relationships to serve as professional leaders in the denomination. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority...

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly narrowed the field to three candidates in its balloting for vice president. Voting a third ballot Aug. 21, voting members chose from a remaining field of eight candidates, selecting incumbent Carlos Peña, Galveston, Texas, Ryan...

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Peter Mayer, lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, sees his involvement at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly as evidence that he’s “not your usual rock and roll entertainer.” Mayer was at the assembly Aug. 21 to perform a concert, with proceeds...

MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) – Leaders of organizations favoring and opposing further involvement of people who are gay and lesbian in the church praised and denounced actions taken at the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Both expressed a desire to have the church remain united and for...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...