ELCA NEWS SERVICE November 17, 2005 ELCA Council Approves Committee on Mission Funding, Acts on Other Matters 05-226-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a proposal for an ELCA "Blue Ribbon Committee for Mission Funding," which will study topics that may include mission support, stewardship education, planned giving, designated and restricted giving, and consider related memorials from the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. The Council also heard the ELCA treasurer's report, acted on continuing resolutions, discussed the 2006 ELCA health and benefits plan, and filled a vacancy on a churchwide program committee. 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. 11-13. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-12, 2007. The idea of a blue ribbon committee originated with the ELCA Conference of Bishops, which proposed the appointment of the committee in place of a synodical/churchwide leaders' gathering on mission funding which was planned for March 2006. That gathering has been postponed at least until fall 2006. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, explained that in the past few years the ELCA has sought to address mission funding in a variety of ways including the creation of a new Development Services unit, development of an integrated donor database and moving responsibility for mission support to ELCA Synodical Relations. "The major piece we have yet to address is the principle of interdependence," Hanson told the council. "This will become a major part of your work in the next biennium." Council member Earl L. Mummert, Harrisburg, Pa., chair of the council's budget and finance committee, explained that the blue ribbon committee will include at least three council members, three synod bishops and four at-large positions. The council appointed Grieg L. Anderson, Portland, Ore.; the Rev. Jennifer L. Thomas, Milwaukee; and Mummert to the committee. The committee is expected to produce a report and recommendations for the consideration at the April 2007 council meeting. The council heard other reports and acted on several proposals: + Christina Jackson-Skelton, ELCA treasurer, reported operating income to the churchwide organization for 2005 was about $800,000 ahead of expenses for the period Feb. 1 through Sept. 30. Total receipts were $51.5 million, up $1.2 million over the same period in 2004. Expenses related to those funds were $50.7 million, down $500,000 from a year ago. Overall receipts this year compared to last were ahead of the budget forecast by 3.4 percent, and expenses were down 7.4 percent, she said. Mission support funds from ELCA congregations, through 65 synods, were up, as were other temporarily restricted and unrestricted dollars available for budgeted operations of the church, Jackson-Skelton said. + The council adopted several continuing resolutions related to governance proposals that went before the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. The assembly rejected a proposal for a 69-member council, but, in doing so, it also rejected other proposals that it wanted to adopt, such as a proposal to "pair" synods for council member elections, said the Rev. Kenneth M. Ruppar, Richmond, Va., chair of the council's legal and constitutional committee. The council adopted continuing resolutions designating chairs of churchwide program committees and board chairs of separately incorporated units as council advisors with voice but no vote; it adopted a proposal that the chair of the consulting committee on "work on behalf of women" be a council advisor with voice but no vote; it designated council members as liaisons to new program committees and the advisory committee for The Lutheran magazine; it provided for church council nominees to be named by synods on a rotating basis and suggested pairings of synods; and it provided for a system of receiving names of people to serve on churchwide program committees. + David G. Adams, vice president, products and services, ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis, reported on health plan changes for 2006. The Board's main emphasis remains on promoting lifetime health, and he said the Board of Pensions' plan members can participate in an online "health risk assessment" early next year. + The council elected Jordan Krey, Philadelphia, to the program committee for ELCA Vocation and Education, succeeding Jonathan Vehar, Albuquerque, N.M., who resigned. + Council members made a commitment to donate to the Vision for Mission program as a symbol of support for churchwide ministries. In addition council members' offerings during the weekend totaled $2,845, which they agreed to share equally between Lutheran Disaster Response and the World Hunger Appeal. Originally, they contributed half the amount but challenged themselves to double their offerings and contribute to both ministries. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news