ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 13, 2004 Later ELCA Assemblies Address Hunger, Stewardship, Sexuality 04-146-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Voting members attending synod assemblies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in late spring and early summer addressed a variety of churchwide and local concerns, speaking most frequently in resolutions related to domestic and world hunger, stewardship and funding, and the ELCA Studies on Sexuality. The 5-million-member ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop. Synod assemblies concluded June 27. The ELCA Department for Synodical Relations compiles assembly reports from ELCA churchwide representatives. The reports include resolutions and memorials, which are resolutions addressed to the churchwide assembly. The department had received nearly all of the reports by Aug. 2. Other topics addressed by the synods were marriage, term limits for churchwide officers, lay presidency, Middle East concerns, gambling, violence in schools, HIV/AIDS education and Lutheran-Jewish relations. ELCA Hunger Appeal, Program Get Affirmations The Central States Synod assembly encouraged congregations to give at least $6 per member to the Hunger Appeal and appoint a congregational hunger advocate. The Northern Illinois Synod encouraged congregations to increase giving to the appeal by 5 percent annually. It also asked that progress in World Hunger Appeal giving be reported to the synod assembly. The Southwestern Washington Synod assembly adopted a goal to increase world hunger gifts by 10 percent this year, and another 10 percent next year. The Minneapolis Area Synod Assembly encouraged congregations to work toward a goal of $25 million in churchwide gifts to the World Hunger Appeal. (Total gifts to the appeal were $18 million in fiscal 2003.) The Lower Susquehanna Synod assembly established a goal of more than doubling gifts to the Hunger Appeal. The Nebraska Synod assembly encouraged congregations to recruit 10 percent of their baptized members to electronically transfer $10 per month to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal; it also established a world hunger committee. The Southeastern Iowa Synod assembly called for action to end hunger as "a core conviction" of the ELCA and directed its synod council to forward the resolution to the ELCA Church Council for consideration in the strategic planning process. The Pacifica Synod encouraged congregations to adopt the principle of "status confessionis," which means alleviation of hunger as a matter of faith. The resolution said the principle is "a tactic in bringing an end to hunger in the world." The Florida-Bahamas Synod strengthened its commitment to the World Hunger Appeal in light of the appeal's 30th anniversary this year. The Northern Great Lakes Synod assembly raised $10,000 in quarters for hunger programs at its assembly; the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin assembly raised $53,505 through June for hunger programs. Synod Assemblies Address Giving, Stewardship The Greater Milwaukee Synod, which already leads all of the 65 synods of the church in the percentage of mission-support funds it shares with churchwide ministries, agreed to share 62 percent of its income with the churchwide organization in fiscal 2005, an increase of 1 percent. The Rev. Paul Stumme-Diers, Greater Milwaukee synod bishop, said in his report "this is a time to demonstrate leadership and counter pessimism." By increasing mission support, the assembly's action would be "a sign that we are not captured by fear but are moving ahead in confidence. We have a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership." The Central States Synod assembly adopted a resolution with stewardship suggestions for congregations and asked for development of a plan to grow in "shared stewardship" through churchwide mission support. Congregations of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod were encouraged to make the "ministry of stewardship" a high priority and develop four-year stewardship plans. The Northern Illinois Synod said it would seek $200,000 in gifts by July 2005 to help congregations purchase property and build. The ELCA Mission Investment Fund agreed to put in $50,000 for the first $100,000 raised by the Northern Illinois Synod Capital Development Fund, the resolution said. In the partnership with the ELCA Fund for Leaders in Mission, the Northeastern Iowa Synod agreed to create a synod endowment fund to help first-call pastors who come to the synod and have student loans to repay. Congregations were encouraged to take up special offerings to help fund the endowment. Sexuality Studies Addressed by Many Assemblies Generally, resolutions and memorials addressing the studies encouraged congregations to participate by using churchwide study materials, called for the church to maintain present policies or asked that the churchwide assembly adopt policy changes with a two-thirds vote or seek congregational ratification of any changes. The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly mandated the study process in preparation for decisions the 2005 assembly is to make on whether or not people in committed homosexual relationships should be ordained and whether or not the ELCA should develop a rite for blessing of committed same-gender relationships. In addition, a task force assigned to the studies is to develop a proposed social statement on human sexuality for the assembly to consider in 2007. Current ELCA policy expects professional ministers to refrain from all sexual relations outside marriage. The church has no official policy on blessing same-gender relationships, but in 1993 the ELCA Conference of Bishops stated it does not approve of such ceremonies. The Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the church. The Northern Illinois Synod assembly encouraged congregations to engage in the study process and declared that "the unity we share at the font and around the table cannot be broken by our differing perspectives on human sexuality." The Northeastern Iowa Synod assembly and Florida-Bahamas Synod adopted similar resolutions. The Allegheny Synod assembly asked the ELCA Church Council to adopt churchwide assembly rules that would specify that a two-thirds vote would be needed to adopt recommendations that may come from the studies' task force. The Upper Susquehanna Synod adopted a similar proposal on recommendations that relate to ordination; it also asked for a delay on adopting any policy changes related to ordination until after the social statement is acted upon, expected in 2007. The South Carolina Synod assembly affirmed "current policy" of the ELCA on ordination, and called for an increase in funds for a synod task force to promote "inclusivity of all." Resolutions related to the sexuality studies failed at some assemblies. A proposal that the ELCA churchwide assembly receive the task force report, "take no vote" and encourage more conversation on the issues was defeated by the Minneapolis Area Synod assembly. Proposals to prohibit people who practice or promote homosexual behavior from being on the ELCA clergy roster, and to stop discussion in the church on the issues and reject ordination or consecration of gay or lesbian people in active homosexual relationships were defeated at the Central States Synod assembly. And the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod assembly defeated a proposal that affirmed current ELCA policy on same-gender relationships and ordination standards, and a proposal that confirmed and upheld that "the only sexual relationship acceptable to God is in the marriage of one man and one woman." Synod Assemblies Address Host of Churchwide, Local Matters + Marriage: In its 1996 "Message on Sexuality: Some Common Convictions," the ELCA Church Council said "marriage is a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman." The ELCA Studies on Sexuality is expected to address whether the church should have a policy on same-gender blessings. The Southwestern Minnesota Synod assembly called on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to affirm statements already in place on same-gender blessings and marriage. It also asked that the churchwide assembly "adopt no changes in its teaching or practice that contradict these principles." The Southeastern Synod and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod assemblies adopted resolutions affirming the ELCA's definition of marriage. The Northeastern Iowa Synod said the same, asked the churchwide assembly to adopt the resolution and added that a change in the church's doctrine of marriage would be "a grave error." + Middle East: The Minneapolis Area Synod assembly asked the churchwide assembly to "express its solidarity with Christians and others in the Holy Land who seek peace." It encouraged members to pray, visit the region and listen to those affected by the conflict. The Metropolitan Chicago Synod assembly expressed commitment to the ministry of Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH), a Lutheran World Federation facility in East Jerusalem that serves Palestinian refugees. It asked congregations to designate an AVH Sunday and take up special offerings for the hospital and its patients; it encouraged the synod bishop, pastors and lay leaders to visit AVH in 2005, and asked the ELCA Church Council to encourage financial support throughout the ELCA for the hospital. + Ratification of churchwide assembly actions: The Southwestern Minnesota Synod asked the churchwide assembly to seek ratification of amendments to the ELCA Constitution by three-fourths of ELCA synods at assemblies or a majority of congregations within one calendar year of final approval by the churchwide assembly. + Church Council representation: The Southwestern Minnesota Synod assembly asked the churchwide assembly to amend the ELCA Constitution to provide "for the direct election of church council members by individual synods." The council should consist of the four churchwide officers and 65 others elected by synod assemblies, the resolution said. + Historic episcopate: The Southwestern Minnesota Synod assembly urged adoption of churchwide constitutional amendments that "will freely permit" candidates for ordination and bishops to be ordained or installed "without the participation of bishops in Episcopal succession," and that these options have equal standing in the ELCA. It also asked the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to make "no distinction" in church records for those whose ordinations or installations do not include bishops in Episcopal succession, and it asked ELCA bishops to honor an "exceptions" bylaw that makes ordination possible for a candidate who does not wish to be part of the historic episcopate under certain and specific circumstances. + Term limits: The Northeastern Minnesota synod adopted a resolution asking the churchwide assembly to establish two-term limits for the churchwide officers. The officers are the presiding bishop, secretary, vice president and treasurer, each elected to six-year terms. All are elected by the churchwide assembly except the treasurer, who is elected by the ELCA Church Council. + Lay presidency: The Southwestern Minnesota Synod adopted a resolution encouraging the ELCA Division for Ministry to recommend revisions to the ELCA Constitution to provide congregations "with the authority to train and appoint lay people to preside at Holy Communion when an ordained pastor is not available." + New congregations: The Southwestern Washington Synod assembly asked the churchwide assembly to consider a methodology for new mission starts that reflects "the challenges of today's mission field." It also asked the church and faculties at ELCA colleges, universities and seminaries to engage in a study process related to a biblical approach to starting mission congregations. + HIV/AIDS education: The Southeastern Synod assembly asked the churchwide assembly to initiate a churchwide effort to encourage HIV/AIDS education and prevention in congregations and communicate with social service organizations the value of coordinating HIV/AIDS education efforts with local interfaith AIDS networks. The resolution also asked the church to advocate for government to care for people living with AIDS and to educate people about how to prevent HIV infections. + Gambling: The Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod and Lower Susquehanna Synod assemblies adopted similar resolutions opposing attempts by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to bring slot machine gambling to the state. Both asked that their actions be reported to elected officials and said they supported "fair, progressive, long- lasting tax reform in the Commonwealth that will provide responsibly for programmatic needs." + Support for military chaplains: The South Carolina Synod assembly asked the ELCA to develop guidelines for the church focusing on the status of clergy, financial considerations and pastoral ministry during military deployment. + Bioethical research: The Northeastern Iowa Synod assembly asked the ELCA to develop a social statement that addresses the "theological, ethical, public and pastoral issues surrounding genetic research and therapy." + Faith and coercion: The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod assembly adopted a resolution denouncing behavior "intended to coerce or force anyone to profess a faith in Jesus Christ or ask them to renounce their faith." The action was in response to news reports about Iraqi prisoners in United States custody who were forced to denounce Islam or engage in behavior contrary to Islam. + Welcoming: The Metropolitan Chicago Synod assembly adopted a resolution recognizing a 2005 "Grow for Jesus" emphasis in the African American Lutheran community and said the synod would "pray for this effort and welcome African Americans into our congregations." + Violence in schools: The Northern Illinois Synod assembly asked the ELCA to study school violence, "especially name-calling, bullying and intimidation." It asked the churchwide organization to assemble resources on the subject and that congregations consider setting aside one Sunday a year to emphasize "care and respect for all God's children." + Evangelism: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod assembly adopted a resolution committing its congregations to a two-year evangelism initiative. + Lutheran-Jewish relations: The Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod assembly congratulated the Jewish community on the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the Jews in North America and reaffirmed a commitment to continue mutual understanding among Jews and Christians. It specifically mentioned the work of the Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding at Muhlenberg College, an ELCA higher education institution in Allentown, Pa. It asked the churchwide assembly to recognize and honor the Jewish community for its 350 years of "life, work, civic involvement and faithfulness in North America." --- For a report on other synod assemblies in 2004, please see "Early ELCA Synod Assemblies Address Sexuality, Other Issues" issued June 30. It is at http://www.elca.org/scriptlib/CO/ELCA_News/encArticleList.asp on the ELCA Web site. Information about the ELCA's 65 synods is available through the ELCA Department for Synodical Relations http://www.elca.org/sr on the ELCA Web site. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news