Title: ELCA Council Approves Plan to Develop Worship Resources
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 14, 2000

ELCA COUNCIL APPROVES PLAN TO DEVELOP WORSHIP RESOURCES
00-275-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- To help address the worship needs of the 5.15
million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the
ELCA Church Council approved the "Next Generation of ELCA Worship
Resources," a new multi-year plan for the church's worship team and
Augsburg Fortress Publishers.  It also approved the establishment of
a "designated fund" of up to $1.2 million for the plan.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves
as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide
assemblies.  The council met here Nov. 10-13.  Assemblies are held
every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, 2001, in Indianapolis.
     The worship team, housed in the ELCA Division for
Congregational Ministries (DCM), and Augsburg Fortress Publishers,
the church's Minneapolis-based publishing house,  will work together
to implement the plan in a five-phase process in the next five years.
The process will begin with a series of ELCA consultations designed
to provide conversation and widespread input regarding worship.
     The consultations, being planned for 2001-2002, will feature
discussions on "The Use of the Means of Grace" as it relates to music
in worship, language and culture, worship space and environment, and
preaching.  The Use of the Means of Grace is the ELCA's statement on
sacramental practices adopted by the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
     The second phase of the plan includes the development of a
series of "working groups" in 2001-2004 to address specific projects
necessary for the next generation of ELCA worship resources.
     The third phase entails a series of "trial-use resources" for
congregations to review and provide feedback in 2001-2004.  The
resources will reflect the work of the consultative bodies and
working groups.
     The fourth phase is the development of regional and synodical
conferences for the introduction of resources, conversation and
feedback.
     The final phase includes a proposal for a new series of ELCA
worship resources in 2005.
     Other components of the ELCA and Augsburg Fortress plan include
a schedule of events, budget structure and a "partnership agreement"
between DCM and Augsburg Fortress.  The agreement articulates the
"long-term working principles" for the partnership on the project.
     The Next Generation of ELCA Worship Resources "is a multi-phase
process for developing new and exciting resources for consideration
by the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly," the Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, DCM
executive director, told the council.  Bullock added that the "ELCA's
ecumenical partners" will be invited to observe and participate in
conversations.
     "The plan provides the opportunity to be a full witness among
our communions," said the Rev. Fred S. Opalinski, council member,
Trinity Lutheran Church, Latrobe, Pa.
-- -- --
      Documents from the Church Council meeting are available at
http://www.elca.org/os/churchcouncil/actions.html on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html