ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 18, 2003

ELCA Council Adopts Process for Design, Churchwide Organization Governance
03-207-JB

     CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a three-
phase process for redesign of the ELCA churchwide organization,
leading to a final proposal to be presented to the council for
consideration in November 2004.  In a separate action, it agreed
to study the issues of governance related to the churchwide
organization, with a report and recommendations also to be
presented to the council in November 2004.
     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. 13-16 at the
invitation of the ELCA North Carolina Synod, and joined in a
celebration of the synod's 200th anniversary Nov. 15 at Wake
Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.  Churchwide assemblies are
held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, 2005, in Orlando,
Fla.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, asked the
council to develop a process for redesign of the churchwide
organization to fit the church's planning effort, "Faithful Yet
Changing: Planning for Mission," which includes strategic
priorities.  He said he specifically wanted a process that would
be consultative and inclusive.
      Hanson's request follows an earlier design proposed by the
ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop that drew heavy criticism and
was withdrawn by Hanson this fall.  The 2003 Churchwide Assembly,
which met in August in Milwaukee, authorized the presiding bishop
to align the churchwide organization's structure, staffing and
budget with the ELCA's plan for mission.
     Janet Thompson, council member and chair of the council's
planning and evaluation committee, Eagan, Minn., said the new
process is built on the ELCA's strategic priorities, adopted in
April 2003 and provides for a "more nimble process."
     "We don't know what we'll learn in each phase of this
process," Thompson said in her report to the council.  She said
the council will evaluate each phase as the process proceeds.
     The three phases of the redesign process are:
     + Phase One, January to April 2004: The presiding bishop's
staff, guided by the executive directors of the churchwide units,
will meet with churchwide boards and steering committees, ethnic
associations, churchwide staff, Conference of Bishops, Church
Council, synod councils and partners in ministry.  They will ask
questions about the church's strategic directions and how they
may impact ministry.  Answers will be summarized and reported to
the council when it meets April 16-19 in Chicago.
     + Phase Two, May to July 2004: Models for the churchwide
organization's structure, staffing and budget will be developed,
and the same participants as in Phase One will be invited to
provide written responses to the proposals.
     A "representative panel" will be selected from the
participants to refine the proposal, and responses will be
sought.
     + Phase Three, August to November 2004: A writing team will
be assembled and a panel of organizational design consultants
will respond to a proposed design, critique it and make
suggestions.  A draft will be distributed by Sept. 1 to all
participants for response to the Church Council before it
considers a proposal in November 2004.
     In its action, the council asked for a communication
strategy related to the redesign process.  It thanked Hanson for
his leadership in developing the first plan which was withdrawn.
The council also "expressed gratitude to all those on the
churchwide staff for their ministry and partnership, especially
in this time of transition and [pledged] prayerful concern and
support for continued ministries."
     In a separate but parallel process, the council asked for
study on the subject of governance of the churchwide
organization.  That study will examine issues of role, authority,
accountability, representation, continuity and expense.
Recommendations will be considered at the November 2004 council
meeting.
     The council's executive committee will manage the governance
study and the planning and evaluation committee will manage the
redesign process, Thompson said.
     In its discussion, the Rev. Richard J. Foss, bishop of the
ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod, Fargo, and advisory bishop to
the council, asked if the process must require one year.
     It will take a year if the process is to be "iterative,"
Hanson said.
     Hanson said it was essential that the council and the
churchwide executive directors "be on board" with this process
before it goes forward.  He said he wanted to honor his pledge to
the church that a new redesign process be more inclusive.
      Hanson also said he is concerned about the impact of the
redesign process on churchwide staff and said he will take
"proactive" steps to help.
     Ellen T. Maxon, council member, Washington, D.C., suggested
the council imagine "a structure without money" and build a
proposal based on ministry needs rather than budgets.
     "You can be assured we are dealing with budget matters [and]
will not have this process driven by them," said the Rev. Charles
S. Miller, executive for administration and executive assistant
to the presiding bishop, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop.


For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
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