ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 17, 2007
ELCA Bishops Hear Concluding Report from ELCA Secretary Almen
07-169-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In his final report to the Conference of
Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the
Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, shared some reflections
about the strengths of the ELCA and specific concerns for its
future. Almen also commented on how he has changed his mind
about the size and role of the ELCA Church Council, the church's
board of directors.
Almen made the comments Oct. 6 to the Conference, an
advisory body of the ELCA consisting of the 65 synod bishops,
presiding bishop and secretary. The conference met here Oct. 4-
9.
Almen, 66, had told the conference that his final report
would include some reflections about his more than 20 years as
secretary. He announced one year earlier that he would not seek
another term as secretary. His terms ends Oct. 31. David D.
Swartling, Seattle, was elected at the 2007 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly to succeed Almen.
Expressing gratitude for the formation of the ELCA, Almen
said, "I believe that we as members of the ELCA are better
equipped now to face the challenges and struggles that await us
in the coming years and decades -- that is, better equipped
together than what would have been the case if we had remained in
our separate predecessor (church) bodies."
He also expressed appreciation for the ELCA Confession of
Faith in its governing documents. He noted, among other things,
that the ELCA is part of the "whole Church catholic."
"That is a crucial awareness for us, I believe," he said.
The ELCA must be aware of its responsibility within the
international Lutheran community and the wider ecumenical
community, Almen said.
ELCA seminaries should be treated as a crucial element in
any strategic planning for the ELCA's future, and strategic
planning for the seminaries "ought to reflect the
responsibilities of that institution for the health and well-
being of this church," he said. The ELCA secretary warned that
the ELCA faces a danger if the seminaries produce "entrepreneurs"
operating in the church rather than candidates "willing to be
agents of this church" serving as ordained ministers.
Because there's a need to develop deeper synodical and
churchwide relationships, ELCA governing documents should be
amended to provide for one member of the Church Council from each
of the 65 synods, Almen said.
Roles of churchwide advisors are not entirely clear, Almen
said, adding he'd rather the ELCA have a larger voting membership
on the council.
"I imagine greater engagement of council members with units
by certain council members serving on program committees of a
reduced size. And I envision the elimination of various advisory
categories to allow extra funding for a larger number of voting
members who would engage fully in smaller program committees and
regular council committees," he said.
Almen mentioned other specific concerns he had about the
ELCA:
+ The ELCA must determine why there has been a dramatic decline
in membership in various places, especially in the past five
years. He cited declining birth rates among members as a key
reason.
+ Factors affecting levels of mission-support income for synods
and churchwide ministries must be examined.
+ The ELCA Conference of Bishops should act in the interests of
the whole church and not so much on specific local interests. "I
sensed in the early days of the ELCA a deep awareness of this
broader duty of the Conference of Bishops. In the years since
then, there have been a few times when that awareness has not
been as evident. Those examples of an occasionally narrow
perspective trouble me," he said.
+ There exists "an inadequate understanding of ordination ... in
places within this church," he said. The power to ordain resides
in the whole church, and it is not to be treated as an individual
"right" but a "rite" of the ELCA, Almen said.
+ Almen expressed concern about how a bylaw that provided for
"ordination in unusual circumstances" has been practiced, arguing
that neither the bylaw requirements nor the related policy "are
being observed conscientiously." He was especially critical of
last-minute requests for exceptions after ordinations had been
scheduled, saying "that the whistle needs to be sounded loudly on
that game of last-minute requests and written statements that do
not meet the criteria listed in the policy."
+ Almen said, if a solid foundation is provided in a new social
statement on human sexuality, he hopes "that a way may be found
to acknowledge particular ministry needs and the gifts of those
who are now precluded under the ministry standards as currently
stated."
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
