ELCA NEWS SERVICE March 15, 2004 ELCA Bishops Hear Presiding Bishop's 'Hope' for the Church 04-039-JB WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said the ELCA is not "a church is that is troubled or in trouble" but a church in which he sees much hope. Hanson made the comment in his report to the ELCA Conference of Bishops, which met here March 4-9. The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop. The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the church, consisting of the church's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. Hanson began his report by asking, "Is the ELCA a troubled church or a church in trouble?" He said he wondered about "losing the center of this church" as the ELCA is headed toward votes at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly that "are a heavy weight on us." Hanson referred to planned votes on policies related to homosexuality that are to be presented to the assembly that year. "With all the realities we are facing, we are in fact an 'alive' church -- a church that daily dies and is daily lifted up in Christ," he said. The 2005 Churchwide Assembly is to consider a report and recommendations on two policy questions: Should the church ordain people who are gay and lesbian and living in a committed homosexual relationship? Should the church have a policy on blessings of same-gender relationships? Under present policy, pastors who are single are expected to refrain from sexual relationships. The church does not have a policy on blessing same-gender relationships, although the Conference of Bishops does not encourage such blessings. ELCA congregations have been encouraged to study the issues using materials, which a task force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality provided, and to report the results of their work to the task force by late October. "There is a little bit of lessening of anxieties about the sexuality studies and increasing participation," Hanson said. He added that the present public debate over same-sex "marriages" isn't all bad because it gives the church a chance to speak to society. At the same time, Hanson said he hoped congregations and members will see and discuss Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ." "Let's not miss the moment that has been given to us in a society that has been reawakened by 'The Passion of the Christ'," Hanson said. The ELCA has posted several resources related to the film at http://www.elca.org/co/culture/ on the Web. A portion of Hanson's report was devoted to an extensive planning process that includes possible changes in the church's structure, governance and spending, and which is being directed by the ELCA Church Council and the Office of the Presiding Bishop. At its November 2004 meeting the council is expected to receive proposals about the church's structure, governance and spending. As with other groups throughout the church this spring, the bishops discussed planning issues in small groups and reported their observations in writing to the presiding bishop's office. The Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration and executive assistant to the presiding bishop, said churchwide staff regarded the discussions "as a critical and urgent conversation." "The options are that we will either have a relationship defined strategically and in a mutually supportive way, or we will have a relationship that is not strategic but haphazard, unfocused and uninformed," he said. Some of the planning proposals will require action by the churchwide assembly, Miller said. The bishops discussed the ELCA's role as a public church, its role in deepening and extending global, ecumenical and interfaith relationships and its role in developing professional leaders. The bishops commented on the role of the ELCA churchwide organization in supporting congregations and evangelical outreach; and they reflected on whether or not the churchwide organization "could adequately do all the work it needs to do for the ELCA as a whole, even if it [the organization] was considerably smaller (e.g., two-thirds of its current size)." For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news