ELCA NEWS SERVICE October 15, 2003 ELCA Bishops Address Advertising, Discuss Lay Presidency Issues 03-187-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a policy to permit, under certain circumstances, advertising for pastoral vacancies by congregations in The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA. The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop. The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body to the church, consisting of the church's 65 synod bishops, ELCA presiding bishop and ELCA secretary. The conference met here Oct. 2-6. Following some discussion, the bishops approved the advertising proposal from its Synodical-Churchwide Relations Committee. The Conference endorsed a recommendation that the magazine receive and place ads from congregations with pastoral vacancies seeking new pastors. Congregations must get permission to advertise from their synodical bishops and get approval on the content of the ads. Ads must specify that pastoral candidates contact the synod office for information, not the congregation. The bishops approved the proposal, noting that some congregations have already advertised for new pastors in other Christian publications. On other matters, the conference and four theologians of the church discussed the subject of lay presidency, referring to the role of lay people in worship practices such as presiding at Holy Communion or other leadership roles in the church. The bishops are studying the ordained and authorized lay ministry in the ELCA. The four theologians were the Rev. Sarah Henrich, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.; the Rev. Maria E. Erling, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.); the Rev. Thomas H. Schattauer, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa; and the Rev. Timothy J. Wengert, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Each prepared a paper for the bishops on the meaning and function of call and ordination in the life of the ELCA. The bishops will continue their study process on lay presidency at their academy in January and during their spring 2004 meeting. In a separate session, the bishops and ELCA seminary presidents had a conversation about upcoming seminary plans and mutual concerns. There are eight ELCA seminaries. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news