ELCA NEWS SERVICE November 18, 2003 ELCA Council Adopts Process for Design, Churchwide Organization Governance 03-207-JB CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a three- phase process for redesign of the ELCA churchwide organization, leading to a final proposal to be presented to the council for consideration in November 2004. In a separate action, it agreed to study the issues of governance related to the churchwide organization, with a report and recommendations also to be presented to the council in November 2004. The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov. 13-16 at the invitation of the ELCA North Carolina Synod, and joined in a celebration of the synod's 200th anniversary Nov. 15 at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C. Churchwide assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, 2005, in Orlando, Fla. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, asked the council to develop a process for redesign of the churchwide organization to fit the church's planning effort, "Faithful Yet Changing: Planning for Mission," which includes strategic priorities. He said he specifically wanted a process that would be consultative and inclusive. Hanson's request follows an earlier design proposed by the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop that drew heavy criticism and was withdrawn by Hanson this fall. The 2003 Churchwide Assembly, which met in August in Milwaukee, authorized the presiding bishop to align the churchwide organization's structure, staffing and budget with the ELCA's plan for mission. Janet Thompson, council member and chair of the council's planning and evaluation committee, Eagan, Minn., said the new process is built on the ELCA's strategic priorities, adopted in April 2003 and provides for a "more nimble process." "We don't know what we'll learn in each phase of this process," Thompson said in her report to the council. She said the council will evaluate each phase as the process proceeds. The three phases of the redesign process are: + Phase One, January to April 2004: The presiding bishop's staff, guided by the executive directors of the churchwide units, will meet with churchwide boards and steering committees, ethnic associations, churchwide staff, Conference of Bishops, Church Council, synod councils and partners in ministry. They will ask questions about the church's strategic directions and how they may impact ministry. Answers will be summarized and reported to the council when it meets April 16-19 in Chicago. + Phase Two, May to July 2004: Models for the churchwide organization's structure, staffing and budget will be developed, and the same participants as in Phase One will be invited to provide written responses to the proposals. A "representative panel" will be selected from the participants to refine the proposal, and responses will be sought. + Phase Three, August to November 2004: A writing team will be assembled and a panel of organizational design consultants will respond to a proposed design, critique it and make suggestions. A draft will be distributed by Sept. 1 to all participants for response to the Church Council before it considers a proposal in November 2004. In its action, the council asked for a communication strategy related to the redesign process. It thanked Hanson for his leadership in developing the first plan which was withdrawn. The council also "expressed gratitude to all those on the churchwide staff for their ministry and partnership, especially in this time of transition and [pledged] prayerful concern and support for continued ministries." In a separate but parallel process, the council asked for study on the subject of governance of the churchwide organization. That study will examine issues of role, authority, accountability, representation, continuity and expense. Recommendations will be considered at the November 2004 council meeting. The council's executive committee will manage the governance study and the planning and evaluation committee will manage the redesign process, Thompson said. In its discussion, the Rev. Richard J. Foss, bishop of the ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod, Fargo, and advisory bishop to the council, asked if the process must require one year. It will take a year if the process is to be "iterative," Hanson said. Hanson said it was essential that the council and the churchwide executive directors "be on board" with this process before it goes forward. He said he wanted to honor his pledge to the church that a new redesign process be more inclusive. Hanson also said he is concerned about the impact of the redesign process on churchwide staff and said he will take "proactive" steps to help. Ellen T. Maxon, council member, Washington, D.C., suggested the council imagine "a structure without money" and build a proposal based on ministry needs rather than budgets. "You can be assured we are dealing with budget matters [and] will not have this process driven by them," said the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration and executive assistant to the presiding bishop, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news