ELCA Assembly Encourages Restraint in Discipline of Congregations, Leaders
CHICAGO (ELCA) - While the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) made no changes to its standards for its professional leaders during the 2007 Churchwide Assembly, it encouraged restraint in disciplining people and congregations that call ministers in mutual, chaste and faithful, committed, same-gender relationships, and called for restraint in...
ELCA Assembly Approves Budgets for 2008 and 2009
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved budget proposals Aug. 10 for 2008 and 2009 The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6- 11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people are participating,...
ELCA Assembly Requests Clarification of Bishops' Accountability
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In action on Aug. 11 at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the assembly asked synod bishops to discuss their accountability "to the adopted policies, practices and procedures of the ELCA." The assembly requested that a statement of such accountability be...
ELCA Assembly Requests HIV and AIDS Strategy Development
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a resolution Aug. 8 calling for a churchwide strategy for responding to HIV and AIDS to build on and deepen current denominational engagement with the pandemic in the U.S. and around the world. The...
ELCA Assembly Acts to Strengthen the Church's Financial Future
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Striving to strengthen the future financial resources of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly accepted a report with recommendations Aug. 10 from the ELCA Blue Ribbon Committee on Mission Funding -- a committee appointed to study the funding policies and practices...
ELCA Assembly Receives Greetings from Ecumenical Guests
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- During the 7th plenary session of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 9, representatives from church bodies in full communion with the ELCA extended their greetings to assembly voting members. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA,...
ELCA Assembly Continues Bible Study on Sexuality
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. David L. Tiede told the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that the greatest promise, richest gift received is the presence of Christ. Tiede, professor of vocation and religion, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, led Bible study Aug. 8-9 at the assembly....
ELCA Assembly Hears Greeting from ELCIC National Bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Raymond L. Schultz, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), asked Lutherans in the United States to work with Canadian Lutherans to "exercise a mutual prophetic stewardship" on domestic and international issues. Addressing the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in...
ELCA Assembly Narrows Field for Secretary to Three
CHICAGO (ELCA) - A seminary president, an attorney and an ELCA staff member remain on the ballot for the post of secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) after three rounds of voting. In the third round of balloting, the Rev. Michael L. Cooper- White, president of the...
ELCA Assembly Greeted by Lutheran Youth Organization
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The high-school-age members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly together can transform the ELCA into something relevant and meaningful to all of God's people. That was the message from the president and vice president of the Lutheran Youth Organization...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Education Social Statement
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted, by a vote of 949 to 35, a social statement on education addressing issues of children's faith formation, quality of U.S. public schools, and support for Lutheran schools and campus ministries Aug. 10. The...
ELCA Assembly Hears Bible Study on Christian Freedom
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Timothy J. Wengert, professor, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, led a bible study Aug. 10 analyzing the concept of "freedom in Christ" for participants at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...
ELCA Assembly Welcomes LMM President
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Heber Rast, president of Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), said that the LMM board unanimously approved a resolution "strongly endorsing" a new five-year Bible-study initiative for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). LMM is the ELCA's men's ministry. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...
ELCA Assembly to Consider Paul Schreck, David Swartling for Secretary
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The names of the Rev. Paul A. Schreck and David D. Swartling will be on the final ballot for secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). On the fourth ballot 1,043 votes were cast, with Swartling receiving 528 and Schreck receiving 304. The churchwide assembly,...
ELCA Assembly Receives Greetings from Women of the ELCA
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Carmen K. Richards, president of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said that the organization has "continued its strong ministries, global education, scholarships, grants, Bible studies, cross-cultural immersion and stewardship" when she addressed participants at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA Aug....
ELCA Assembly Welcomes LCMS President
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The president of The Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod urged the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to ground in Scripture its initiatives under consideration at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly this week. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11at Navy...
ELCA Assembly Hears Variety of Greetings from Ecumenical Guests
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Leaders of three ecumenical partners of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) thanked the church body Aug. 9 for its role with their agencies. They also brought greetings to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here...
ELCA Assembly Greeted by Global Refuge
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr. told the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that the nation is filled with fear of the stranger. Deffenbaugh, president of Global Refuge, delivered greetings Aug. 9 on behalf of LIRS -- a cooperative...
ELCA Assembly Sends Memorials on Same-Sex Blessings to Task Force
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA voted 733-278 to refer memorials on the blessing of same-sex relationships to the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality. The Task Force is engaged in developing a social statement on human sexuality to be presented to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly....
ELCA Assembly Hears Nominees for ELCA Secretary
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Eight candidates for the post of secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed the churchwide assembly Aug. 9, prior to the third ballot that is likely to narrow the field to three candidates. The eight candidates were the top vote-getters on the second ballot...
