ELCA Assembly Receives Report on Financial Status of the Church
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received reports Aug. 8 on the financial status of the denomination and of the Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11...
ELCA Assembly Reminded by Keynote Speaker to Pay Attention to Women
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, general secretary of the World Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA),brought the keynote address to the 2007 Churchwide Assembly. Celebrating in the midst of challenge, using our knowledge to be prophetic and committing to change, were among her themes. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative...
ELCA Assembly Expresses Concern for Genocide in Darfur
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Lutherans around the nation should study the situation in Darfur and advocate to U.S. officials in order to seek an end to the killing that many call a genocide in the African region, said a resolution adopted here Aug. 8 by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical...
ELCA Assembly Hears Presiding Bishop's Report
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In his report to the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 8, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, defined what leadership means for a "sent church." Calling the voting members and others of the assembly "leaders," Hanson...
ELCA Assembly Hears Update on Evangelism Strategy
CHICAGO (ELCA) - With four years of implementation, the Evangelism Strategy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has stimulated activity in key areas such as prayer, leadership preparation and renewal, discipleship teaching and congregation starts and renewal. The 2007 Churchwide Assembly heard an update on "Sharing Faith in a...
ELCA Assembly Hears Message of 'The Apostle Paul'
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Bible studies -- when pastors and theologians parse the texts of Scripture, analyze original languages and find applications of the Bible passages for modern times - are staples of church meetings. But Dr. David Rhoads, professor at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), didn't do any...
ELCA Assembly Opposes Escalation of Iraq War
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The highest legislative assembly of the 4.8 million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America declared its opposition to "any escalation of the war" in Iraq and called upon the U.S. government to "take immediate and comprehensive steps to end the violence and establish a peaceful, stable, and...
ELCA Assembly Hears Bible Study Focused on Human Sexuality
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Participants of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) opened the fifth plenary session with a Bible study focusing on the topic of human sexuality through the study of the verses 1 to 10 of the first chapter of Galatians. The Bible...
ELCA Assembly Hears Chaplain Thank Church for Privilege to Serve
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A Lutheran military chaplain termed it "a privilege to receive ... affirmation on behalf of all federal chaplains," as he received a standing ovation today from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting...
ELCA Assembly Affirms 'Evangelical Lutheran Worship'
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- "Evangelical Lutheran Worship" was affirmed as the church's primary worship resource by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Aug. 7. "This recommendation to affirm Evangelical Lutheran Worship commits the ELCA to renewing worship in the world in which we are called...
ELCA Assembly Seeks to Expand "Welcome" for Returning Military Veterans
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Churches and other agencies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America should provide a "welcoming and supporting environment for returning military veterans," and the bishops of the church were asked to work with military chaplains on additional ways to provide "healing ministries to military veterans and their families."...
ELCA Assembly Affirms 'Book of Faith' Bible-Study Initiative
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) today adopted "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible," a sweeping five-year initiative to boost study of the Bible throughout the 4.8-million member church body. That initiative grew out of a 2005 proposal made by...
ELCA Assembly Receives First Ballot Results for Presiding Bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), led the first ballot for presiding bishop of the ELCA with 765 out of 1,022 votes cast here at the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Hanson fell two votes short of being re-elected...
ELCA Assembly Re-Elects Mark Hanson Presiding Bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, 60, was re- elected to serve another six-year term as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly here. Hanson was re-elected Aug. 7 on the second ballot with 888 votes of the 1,029...
ELCA Assembly Calls for Social Statement on Criminal Justice by 2013
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- The 4.8 million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will develop a social statement -- the church's most authoritative teaching document -- on criminal justice issues to be prevented to the denomination for adoption in 2013. By a vote of 957 to 68, the voting members of...
ELCA Assembly Greeted By Host Bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Recalling the monikers and voting practices that have been applied to this city over the years, the bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, the host of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly, welcomed those attending in brief remarks at the end of the assembly's Aug....
ELCA Presiding Bishop Highlights Churchwide Assembly Topics
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- According to the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), biblical literacy, education and human sexuality will be among some of the significant decision items to face the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. At a news conference here Aug. 6, Hanson...
ELCA Assembly Opens with Worship
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, welcomed the participants of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 6 with a sermon at the opening worship. Hanson's message was focused on the difference between a "sent" and "settled" church. The...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Rules of Organization and Procedure
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The "Rules of Organization and Procedure" for the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were adopted in the assembly's first business session Aug. 6 with one rule change. The standing rules describe the composition, functions and responsibilities of the churchwide assembly as...
Lutheran Music Association moves to Valparaiso
by Lauren A. Lamb, ELCA News Service* The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM), a professional organization dedicated to strengthening the ministry of music in the Lutheran church, will move its headquarters to Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., in August. Valparaiso University is an independent Lutheran institution. David Eicher, interim executive...
