ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 17, 2006
ELCA Council Asks for Report, Recommendations on Scripture Initiative
06-180-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) asked for a report,
recommendations and an expenditure plan for the proposed
initiative, "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible." Details of
the initiative are to be presented at the council's next meeting
in April 2007, and the council is expected to transmit a proposal
about the initiative to the 2007 ELCA 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. 11-13.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-11,
2007.
The council assigned direction of the initiative to the ELCA
presiding bishop, with program implementation to be carried out
by the ELCA Vocation and Education unit.
The anticipated five-year initiative grew out of a
resolution from the ELCA North Carolina Synod, "Faithful
Conversations about Scripture," which was adopted by the 2005
ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
A planning group consisting of churchwide staff and seminary
professors has been developing the proposal. "Throughout the
last year, there has been an enthusiastic response across this
church to the proposal, even before it was formally developed.
People are convinced that the time has come for the ELCA to dig
deeper into Scripture and into its own heritage of studying and
using the Word of God," according to background information
presented to the council.
"Book of Faith" is expected "to help ELCA members draw more
fully on Lutheran understandings of the Word and the Bible," the
background materials said.
A consultation to lay the foundation for the initiative is
scheduled for Jan. 18-20, 2007, here at the churchwide office.
The planning group has suggested that some part-time staff
may be needed to carry out the initiative, such as a director,
communication and resource staff, and support staff. A series of
working groups, to be formed for the January consultation, is
expected to assist.
Council Hears about Human Sexuality Study Document,
Endorses 2008 Health Plan
The study document, "Free in Christ to Serve the Neighbor:
Lutherans Talk About Human Sexuality," will be released Dec. 4.
Copies will be available in print or at
http://www.ELCA.org/faithfuljourney on the ELCA Web site.
The study document is a significant part of the process
leading to development of a social statement on human sexuality,
due to be presented to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The study
is designed to engage ELCA members in the process. Responses to
the study materials are due Nov. 1, 2007.
"The core of the study is found in eight sessions devoted
specifically to human sexuality and related topics. Participants
are invited to engage in moral deliberation on those topics from
the perspective of Paul's letter to the Galatians and Martin
Luther's essay, 'On the Freedom of a Christian,'" according to a
description of the study materials.
Carlos Pena, Galveston, Texas, ELCA vice president and
council chair, appointed Dr. Norma J. Hirsch, council member, Des
Moines, Iowa, to succeed Judy Biffle as council advisor to the
task force for the human sexuality study and social statement.
Biffle, council member, Houston, will complete her term on the
council in 2007.
In a separate action the council endorsed in principle a
design for the 2008 ELCA Health Plan. John G. Kapanke, president
of the ELCA Board of Pensions, reported to the council about the
overall health of the ELCA's professional leaders and discussed
the 2007 and 2008 health plans.
The 2008 plan will contain significant changes, Kapanke
explained. It will be a comprehensive medical plan with higher
deductibles, he said. All preventive services will be reimbursed
at 100 percent with no maximum. In addition, plan members will
have "wellness accounts" which will provide rewards for
participation in activities such as an annual health risk
assessment. The 2008 plan will also provide flexible spending
accounts for all plan members, Kapanke said.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
