ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 4, 2006  

ELCA Council Sets Process to Keep Synods Informed of Assembly Proposals
06-053-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) established a systematic
process April 1 that would enable the church's 65 synods to
examine major action items facing churchwide assemblies.  In
consultation with the ELCA Office of the Secretary, the council
requested that the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop implement
and monitor this process beginning with 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.  It met here April 1-2.  Assemblies are
held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-12, 2007.  Synods
usually gather in assemblies every spring.  Representatives of
the churchwide organization attend synod assemblies on behalf of
the presiding bishop.
     "The council will serve as the interpretive and
accountability link" between synods and (churchwide) assemblies,"
said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop.
     The churchwide organization "will take responsibility to
oversee the implementation" of the process, said the Rev. Lowell
G. Almen, ELCA secretary, adding that the 2006-2007 "biennium
will serve as a test run."
     Goals of the process include deepening the relationships
between synods and the churchwide organization based on
governance and increasing knowledge throughout the church about
major issues, time lines and "pathways for response."  Another
goal is to acknowledge the methods with which synods express
"interrelatedness" in electing voting members of the 2007
churchwide assembly, nominating members to serve on the Church
Council and program committees, and participating in legislative
actions taken at assemblies.
     To help keep synods informed of anticipated churchwide
assembly action items, the churchwide organization will, as part
of the process:
   + Provide and update a list of "What's coming up at the 2007
Churchwide Assembly" to be featured on the ELCA Web site.  The
list will provide a brief description of anticipated churchwide
assembly actions, links to find additional information, and
pathways for response when appropriate.  Current items for the
2007 assembly include elections for the presiding bishop and
secretary, consideration of a social statement on education, a
celebration of "Evangelical Lutheran Worship" -- a new primary
worship resource -- and reports about the church's justice for
women and ethnic ministry strategies
   + Prepare a handout for distribution at synod assemblies,
featuring information and resources
   + Prepare a standard form for synods to report back after their
assemblies.  The form will include sections for synods to record
major topics discussed, prevalent opinions, where conversations
took place (e.g., plenary sessions, forums, workshops or other),
attendance and more
   + Contact and invite synod vice presidents to appoint a "task
group" to take responsibility in filling out the form and
summarizing discussions
   + Alert churchwide representatives assigned to synod assemblies
to include the work of the task group in their reports, which may
include synodical bishops and/or Church Council representatives
+ Report to the Church Council on the implementation of the
process
     Synod staff will work to alert synod assembly planning
committees of the churchwide organization's work listed above,
commit to the engagement of the process in a variety of forums
and approaches, involve congregations about topics and issues
prior to synod assemblies, identify members of the synods to
provide summary highlights in a forum at synod assemblies as
appropriate, anticipate additional information following the
April 2006 Church Council meeting, and provide feedback.
     In February 2006 the executive committee of the Church
Council asked the presiding bishop to appoint a working group to
put together the new process for synod assemblies, which is part
of a proposal for governance approved by the council at its April
2005 meeting.  The working group consisted of churchwide
organization staff, Church Council members and synod bishops who
serve as advisory bishops to the Church Council.

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