ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 17, 2004
ELCA Council Adopts Report On Churchwide Governance
04-216-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a final report and
recommendations regarding changes in governance of the churchwide
organization as part of the church's planning initiative. It
asked that the church's leadership recommend to the council's
April 2005 meeting "any additional amendments to the ELCA's
governing documents, budget or other policies" in preparation for
a report on governance to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.
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. 11-15.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14,
2005, in Orlando, Fla.
The council's executive committee managed a year-long study
of governance, which involved consultation with a wide variety of
church leaders.
"Much effort was taken to engage members of this church on
governance," said Carlos Pena, ELCA vice president, Galveston,
Texas, reporting for the executive committee. The study and
consultations suggested that "significant changes [in governance]
are not in order," he said. The 2003 Churchwide Assembly in
Milwaukee provided some of the suggestions that were considered
or adopted.
The approved proposal addressed churchwide assembly, Church
Council and churchwide program governance.
The churchwide assembly will maintain its current size of
slightly more than 1,000 voting members. Each voting member will
receive a two-year subscription to The Lutheran, the magazine of
the ELCA. The council and ELCA Conference of Bishops will
provide a "systematic and standardized" process to enable members
in synods to discuss and respond to significant decisions to be
made by the assembly beginning with the 2007 assembly; and the
churchwide organization and council are committed to consulting
regularly with synods, particularly in years when there is no
churchwide assembly.
The Church Council will remain at 33 voting members plus the
four churchwide officers, the church's presiding bishop, vice
president, secretary and treasurer. Council members will be
nominated by synods and elected by the churchwide assembly
beginning in 2007. Synods that do not have a person serving on
the church council will have at least one person serving on
committees that will advise significant program areas of the
churchwide organization. One council member suggested that
synods be "paired" to strengthen the idea.
A number of new advisors, in addition to the nine synod
bishops and two youth who serve as council advisors, will be
formally welcomed at council meetings. Many council members have
begun interacting directly with synods in various ways, including
visiting congregations, attending synod council meetings and
synod assemblies.
Existing boards and committees that relate to divisions and
departments of the churchwide organization would become program
committees, with advisory responsibility only. Some council
members and bishops would serve as advisors to these committees.
The council's executive committee based its proposal on a
perceived need for greater sharing of leadership and decision-
making, and greater accountability, according to a written report
presented to the council. It also maintained inclusive
representation principles, and attempted to ensure that "broad
conversation" is held throughout the church before decisions are
made, communication is improved, and that people who serve are
working on behalf of the whole church, according to the report.
Some council members wanted the Church Council to become a
65-member board of directors, plus the four officers, which would
allow for one representative from each of the church's synods.
For example, the Rev. Richard J. Foss, council advisor and bishop
of the ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod, Fargo, said 65 members
would make a difference in communication in the church.
"Connectedness [in the church] and communication has not worked
as well to build trust," he said.
Grieg L. Anderson, council member, Portland, Ore., said he
was concerned that a larger council would turn the body into "a
confederation of synods."
Though she favored 65 members, the Rev. Jennifer J. Thomas,
council member, Milwaukee, said, "I do like this proposal -- the
compromise -- because half of the synods are represented on the
council and others are on the program committees."
Many council members have already started meeting with synod
councils, said Judy Biffle, council member, Houston, a move she
said has been met with great appreciation.
The Rev. Edward R. Benoway, council advisor and bishop, ELCA
Florida-Bahamas Synod, Tampa, urged council members to contact
synods directly and not wait for an invitation to visit.
Council member William R. Lloyd, Jr., Somerset, Pa., said it
was important the council not become a council of "professional
church people." "I think it's important that we maintain a
strong lay involvement."
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said he
"vacillated" between a 65-member council and the current
structure. By pairing synods represented on the council and
program committees, it is a "helpful further move toward
connectedness," he told the council.
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Details of the governance plan are in a "Report for the
Church Council on Governance" at http://www.elca.org/planning on
the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
