Title: 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to Consider Synod Resolutions
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 1, 2001

2001 ELCA CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER SYNOD RESOLUTIONS
01-211-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) --  Resolutions asking for specific actions by the
2001 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) will be presented to assembly voting members meeting Aug. 8-14 in
Indianapolis.  At least 131 resolutions -- known as "memorials" -- were
sent by synods to the churchwide assembly since the last assembly in
1999, said Myrna J. Sheie, executive assistant to the ELCA presiding
bishop and chair of the assembly planning committee.
     The ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop.
The churchwide assembly, the ELCA's highest legislative authority, meets
every two years.  This year, 1,040 voting members will consider the
proposals during the Indianapolis meeting.
     The ELCA Church Council appointed a committee to review the
memorials, chaired by two council members: the Rev. Karen S. Parker,
Huntington Beach, Calif., and Brian D. Rude, Coon Valley, Wis.  The
church council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the
interim legislative authority between churchwide assemblies.
     The committee met this summer and grouped the memorials into some
52 categories, Sheie said.   The committee also recommended possible
responses for the assembly voting members to consider for each memorial,
she said.
     All memorials will be considered, but most will be taken up
together in a category known as "en bloc."  En bloc memorials are not
debated.  The assembly responds in a single vote.  However, assembly
voting members may request that specific memorials be removed from en
bloc for separate consideration by the assembly.
     The memorials committee recommended that at least eight memorials
be offered to the assembly for discussion and separate votes, Sheie
said.
     + Definition and Blessing of Committed Same-Gender Relationships:
Five synods called on the churchwide organization to offer guidance to
synods on the subject of blessing
same-gender relationships.  The memorials committee recommended that the
assembly direct the churchwide organization to develop resources on the
topic for discussion, including proposals for definitions of committed
same-gender relationships; to develop biblical and theological resources
for discussion; to decline initiating a study on homosexuality; to bring
progress reports to the church council and next churchwide assembly; and
to make materials available that pastors could use as they discuss these
issues with people concerned about the issue.  Presently, the ELCA has
no official policy affirming or prohibiting same-gender relationship
blessings.  The ELCA Conference of Bishops, in a 1993 advisory
statement, has said its members do not approve of such ceremonies.
     + Concern for Unity: This memorial was offered by the ELCA
Northern Illinois Synod, and it calls on the churchwide assembly to
address church unity concerns.  Specifically, the synod asked the church
"to uphold the unity of the ELCA by seeking ... ways to reconcile with
those who feel they cannot support" Called to Common Mission, a full-
communion agreement of the ELCA and the Episcopal Church.  The
memorials committee recommended the assembly refer the matter to the
presiding bishop and others to provide for regular reports to the
church council, and to encourage regular conversation on church unity
in the ELCA Conference of Bishops.
     + Israeli-Palestinian Relations: The ELCA Alaska Synod asked that
the ELCA continue a prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East; that the
ELCA request that U.S. aid to Israel, both economic and military, cease
until the same standards of accountability required of other countries
are enforced and until specific Middle East agreements "are adhered to
and justice is brought to the land;" that the Palestinian request for
interim international protection be established by the United Nations;
that the assembly and other groups endorse this resolution; and that a
multi-denominational campaign address U.S. government leaders and seek
their support to establish justice and peace in the region.  The
memorials committee recommended the assembly affirm the concerns raised
by the Alaska Synod, that the presiding bishop write to U.S. leaders
asking that they urge and work with Israelis and Palestinians to end the
"cycle of violence," urge that funds used for military purposes be used
to support humanitarian assistance, discourage private sale of military
weapons to Middle East nations, and urge immediate international
protection of Palestinians under occupation.  The committee also
suggests the assembly ask ELCA members continue to participate in the
ecumenical prayer vigil, affirm and commend the work of churchwide units
responding to the crisis, and commend the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Jordan and Palestine for "steadfastness in faith and courage in witness
through this time of crisis" and "for their ministries of reconciliation
and peacemaking."
     + Family Farms: The ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod asked the
churchwide assembly to request that the church council direct the ELCA
director for rural ministry and networking to address problems related
to the decline of family farms.  It also asked that the church offer
spiritual support to people who work in agricultural enterprises.  In
response, the memorials committee recommended the assembly pray for,
learn about and support family farmers and rural communities and
congregations; support areas of agreement that emerged from the March
2001 Rural Summit in which agribusiness leaders from throughout the
United States met with church leaders; and request that the director for
rural ministry and networking continue to assist the ELCA by working
with ecumenical and other partners to respond to the farm and rural
crisis.
     + Support for the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico: the ELCA
Caribbean Synod asked the churchwide assembly to ask the U.S. Navy "to
undo the damage it has caused" in military exercises it conducts on the
island, and to continue to support efforts of the Caribbean Synod and
ELCA to support the people of Vieques.  The memorials committee
recommended the assembly affirm the Caribbean Synod memorial in its call
for an immediate cessation of all military activity on Vieques; direct
units of the church to continue to advocate for immediate cessation of
military training exercises on Vieques, the decontamination of its land
"from the ravages of nearly 60 years of bombs and ordnance; and the
prompt return of the island to its people."  The proposed response also
asks that there be a progress report to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly.
     + Birmingham Pledge: The ELCA Southeastern Synod asked for
churchwide endorsement of a pledge, created in Birmingham, Ala., which
seeks to promote "equality and racial healing."  The proposed response
thanks the synod for bringing the pledge to the church's attention,
endorses it, urges ELCA members to sign it and calls upon people to
explore ways to use the pledge in efforts to overcome racism.
     + Health-Care Policy: The ELCA Caribbean Synod asked the
churchwide assembly to endorse a proposal that provisions of federal
programs for indigent health care extend "fairly and equally" to all
U.S. territories.  The synod also asked that the language appear in the
church's planned social statement on health care, expected to be
presented to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly.  The memorials committee
proposed that the assembly encourage all ELCA members to participate in
the development of its social statement on health and health care by
responding to a related study completed in 2001, and the draft of the
social statement when it's available in 2002.
     + Church anniversary: The ELCA Caribbean Synod asked that the ELCA
affirm "the faithful legacy" of Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church,
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.  The church is the second oldest
Lutheran church in the Western Hemisphere and the largest in the synod.
The memorials committee recommended that the assembly "give thanks to
God for the 335 years of faithful witness and service by members and
pastors" of the congregation.  It also recommends that the assembly
rejoice with all congregations as they celebrate anniversaries, and
renew their commitment to "proclamation, outreach and service" as part
of the ELCA.
     En bloc resolutions address a variety of issues.  Among the issues
addressed are ordination of gay and lesbian people in committed
relationships, economic sanctions against Iraq and Cuba, global warming,
late-term abortions, refugees, exceptions to ordinations in unusual
circumstances, ratification of ecumenical decisions, evangelism and
discipleship strategy, deaf ministry, definition of marriage, church
council representation and funding for seminaries.
     In addition to memorials from synods, voting members may bring
resolutions to the assembly.  The assembly's reference and counsel
committee reviews proposed resolutions and offers recommendations to
voting members.
-- -- --
     Information about assembly actions will be at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site. Recorded updates
during the assembly are available by calling
773/380-2477.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html