ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 17, 2006

ELCA Council Adopts Social Policy Revision, Asks for Gaming Policy
06-181-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted revisions to a
longstanding ELCA social policy document to enable greater
council participation in the development of ELCA social
statements.
     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. 11-13.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-11,
2007.
     Social statements are social policy documents adopted by the
ELCA Churchwide Assembly that address significant social issues.
The revisions were made to "Policies and Procedures of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for Addressing Social
Concerns." The council requested a review of the document in
2004, anticipating that the review and report would detail ways
in which the participation of the ELCA Conference of Bishops and
Church Council would be strengthened in the process of addressing
future social concerns. The Conference of Bishops is an advisory
body to the ELCA.
     The Rev. Joseph G. Crippen, Northfield, Minn., chair of the
council's program and services committee, said the revisions make
it possible for "council participation" in drafting the ELCA's
social policy. The revisions honor the work of churchwide task
forces, and at the same time, give the council a chance to "own"
social statements, he explained.
     The council action requested that the committee, in
consultation with ELCA Church in Society and the ELCA Office of
the Secretary, develop protocols to standardize the involvement
of the council in the processes outlined "Policies and
Procedures."
     It also asked that a report and possible recommendations be
presented to the council's April 2007 meeting.

Council Asks for Gaming Policy
     In a separate action the council requested that the ELCA
Church in Society program unit, in consultation with the Office
of the Presiding Bishop, the ELCA Multicultural Ministries
program unit and other churchwide units as appropriate, develop a
proposed social policy resolution the clarifies the ELCA position
on legal gambling sponsored by American Indian tribes. The
council also asked that the social policy resolution and related
recommendations be presented to its November 2007 meeting.
     "When the ELCA Washington Office and ELCA state public
policy offices have faced questions on this topic, they have
remained neutral or silent because existing ELCA policy does not
speak to this matter," according to background materials
presented to the council.
     The social policy resolution is expected to establish "a
clear public policy position on 'Indian gaming,'" the materials
said.

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