ELCA NEWS SERVICE
June 8, 2007
ELCA Churchwide Assembly to Meet in Chicago, Aug. 6-11
07-101-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2007 Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly will elect
a presiding bishop and secretary, act on a proposed social
statement, proposals for stewardship education and mission
funding, an initiative on engaging the Bible, and a commitment
for greater ELCA involvement in responding to HIV and AIDS. The
assembly, which will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the
formation of the ELCA, is Aug. 6-11 here at Navy Pier.
About 2,000 people -- including 1,071 voting members elected
by the 65 ELCA synods -- are expected to participate in the
ELCA's 10th biennial assembly.
The theme is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to
God!" Daily worship, Bible study and prayer are planned. Bible
studies will focus on Galatians and Martin Luther's "Freedom of
the Christian."
The churchwide assembly is the ELCA's chief legislative
authority and represents the 4.85 million members of the ELCA
across the United States and Caribbean. The ELCA is the fifth
largest Protestant denomination in the United States and is
organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop.
The ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, led by its bishop, the
Rev. Paul R. Landahl, is hosting the assembly, and volunteers
from the synod have been involved in making local arrangements.
A committee of the churchwide organization is planning details of
the assembly. Myrna J. Sheie, executive assistant to the
presiding bishop, is committee chair.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, in his sixth year as ELCA presiding
bishop, will chair the assembly. Hanson is also president of the
66.7-million member Lutheran World Federation (LWF), based in
Geneva, Switzerland. Assisting Hanson during plenary will be the
Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, and Carlos Pena, ELCA vice
president, Galveston, Texas.
Hanson, who was elected presiding bishop in 2001, previously
announced he will be available for possible re-election at the
2007 assembly. Almen, who has served as secretary since the
formation of the ELCA in 1988, said he will not seek another
term.
Each of the ELCA's 10,389 congregations may send one
representative to the assembly as an official "congregational
observer."
In addition to the elections for presiding bishop and
secretary, the assembly will act on:
+ a proposed social statement, "Our Calling in Education," a
59-page proposal prepared by a task force with input from
throughout the church. Dr. Paul J. Dovre, retired president of
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., and Christi Lines, principal,
St. Paul's Lutheran School, Waverly, Iowa, co-chaired the task
force. Social statements are social policy documents, adopted by
the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, addressing significant social
issues.
+ a "Blue Ribbon Committee on Mission Funding" proposal for
stewardship education and mission funding. The ELCA Church
Council formed the committee to study funding policies and
practices of the ELCA. The council is the ELCA's board of
directors.
+ a renewal initiative for the church, "Book of Faith:
Lutherans Read the Bible," aimed at helping members to engage the
Scriptures, and for intentional teaching, understanding and use
of Lutheran approaches to Scripture.
+ a proposal to affirm the church's work to introduce
"Evangelical Lutheran Worship," the ELCA's newest worship
materials introduced in 2006.
+ a proposal to commit the church to greater engagement in
response to HIV and AIDS through development of a churchwide
strategy for the coming decade.
+ budget recommendations for 2008 and 2009. For 2008 the
Church Council has proposed a budget of $81.67 million and an
ELCA World Hunger income proposal of $19.25 million. For 2009
the council recommended a budget of $81.92 million and an ELCA
World Hunger income proposal of $20 million.
In addition, the assembly will:
+ elect 11 new members to the Church Council, and others to
various boards and committees that work in partnership with the
churchwide organization.
+ act on several constitutional amendments to be presented
for consideration, along with resolutions or "memorials" from
synods, and proposals from assembly voting members. A churchwide
Memorials Committee will meet June 29-30 to determine its
recommendations on synod assembly memorials to the churchwide
assembly.
+ hear reports on multicultural ministries and justice for
women. The Church Council commended the content of each report
"for study, reflection and response throughout this church."
+ hear reports and greetings from representatives of the
ELCA's ecumenical partners, other church bodies and church
organizations.
+ recognize the 100th anniversary of Lutheran campus
ministry and the 60th anniversary of the LWF.
Significant funding for the assembly is provided by the
churchwide organization with some financial support from Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans, a non-for-profit fraternal benefit
society based in Minneapolis.
During the assembly, "Affirming Young Leaders: Thanks be to
God!,"a gathering for young pastors, associates in ministry,
diaconal ministers and deaconesses of the ELCA is planned for
Aug. 6-9. A youth convocation will be held Aug. 6-11.
Preceding the assembly is "Worship Jubilee 2007," an Aug. 3-
6 event at Navy Pier celebrating the renewal of worship in the
ELCA. "Building for the Future," the men's ministry summit
planned by Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA men's ministry, is
planned for Aug. 3-5 at the Chicago Hyatt Regency Hotel. A young
adult convocation for 77 young adult assembly voting members is
Aug. 5-6. The ELCA Church Council and ELCA Conference of Bishops
will meet Aug. 5-6.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly and
proposals to be considered is at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/07
on the ELCA Web site.
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
