ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 9, 2011  

ELCA bishops value ecumenical partners, consider critical mission topics
11-130-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) - "We are exceedingly grateful" for the two churches'
full communion partnership, the Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori
told the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Conference of
Bishops during its meeting here Sept. 29-Oct. 4.
     The ELCA Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the church
that includes the ELCA's synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary.
     Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the 2.4 million-member
Episcopal Church, spoke to ELCA bishops about the ecumenical
opportunities for shared mission work.
     In respect to the ELCA's full communion relationships, she said, "If
we take your connections we have a remarkable network of relationships,
which serves as an amazing tool for mission."
     The ELCA has six full communion relationships. Full communion allows
churches to keep their autonomy and structures yet work together
in mission, witness and the interchangeability of members and clergy.
     Jefferts Schori said the Episcopal Church understands mission as the
healing and restoring of all God's creation. She said there are
opportunities for people of faith to work together toward a shared
understanding of mission and offered five marks for this kind of work:
proclaim the good news of God's kingdom; nurture new believers; respond
to suffering with loving service; transform the unjust part of society;
and care for the Earth.
     Military chaplaincy and work surrounding poverty realizes some good
partnership ecumenically, she said, adding that interfaith partnership
and dialogue could lend to speaking "with a much stronger voice" in the
world. Bringing Episcopalians, ELCA members, Methodists, Muslims,
Presbyterians and other faith groups together for conversation "gives a
more honest kind of dialogue, and seeing one another's diversity gives
deeper meaning," she said.
 
Conference of Bishops receive update on budget, mission support
     The Rev. Linda Norman, ELCA treasurer, reported that net income for
the seven-month period ending in August 2011 reflected a favorable
variance of $3.4 million as compared to August 2010. The churchwide
organization had income in excess of expenses of $2.7 million in current
operating funds.
      Receipts totaled $36.8 million for the seven-month period, an
increase of $71,651 from Aug. 31, 2010. Expenses related to the current
operating fund amounted to $34.1 million, an unfavorable change of $3.3
million or 8.9 percent from August 2010. Revenue for the annual period
was favorable to budget by $2.4 million or 6.5 percent, Norman reported.
     Mission support -- income from congregations to synods and the
churchwide organization -- for the first seven months of 2011 was $27.7
million, a change of $1 million or 3.6 percent. Mission support income
was, however, favorable to the revised budget by $1.1 million or 4.3
percent. Norman said 19 synods are showing remittances exceeding their
2010 amount through seven months, and 41 synods exceeded their August
2010 remittances. The treasurer said that August 2011 also marks the
third time in the last eight months that the rolling 12-month total of
mission support has increased after 18 consecutive months of decline.
     "This continued favorable performance to budget is indication that
income is stabilizing, the operating budget is realistic and the
organization can anticipate fully funding the commitments anticipated in
the spending plan," said Norman.
     She also shared with the Conference of Bishops that contributions to
ELCA World Hunger for the seven months were $7.2 million, favorable to
the same period in fiscal 2010. Receipts for the ELCA Malaria Campaign,
which was officially launched at the 2011 Churchwide Assembly, totaled
$0.8 million through August 2011. The goal of the campaign is to raise
$15 million in four years under the auspices of the ELCA World Hunger
Appeal.
     The Rev. A. Craig Settlage, ELCA director for mission support, said
43 of the ELCA's 65 synods maintained their percentage of sharing, while
14 synods increased their percentages and eight synods expressed a
decrease for 2011. For next year, 20 synods have indicated their intent
to increase percentages with only four synods indicating a decrease.
     Settlage said his consultation with synods, which now include
directors for evangelical mission, remains a critical component of
mission funding in this church.
     He also provided a 10-year picture of regular, congregational giving
per synod. In 2010, the churchwide portion of mission support fell below
50 percent for the first time.
     In his report David Swartling, ELCA secretary, offered some
reflections about the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly this past summer.
Technological advances were significant and will set the stage for future
assemblies. He also said one-third of the ELCA Church Council members
will be new when the council meets this November. There will be
approximately 10 elections for synod bishops in 2012 and 26 in 2013.

Conversations with seminary presidents, update on health care reform
     On behalf of the eight ELCA seminaries, the Rev. Mark R. Ramseth,
president of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, and the Rev.
Michael Cooper-White, president of Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Gettysburg (Pa.), led a conversation about the sustainability and
delivery of theological education in this church. In communication with
one another, seminary presidents and deans have agreed to a higher level
of collaboration and noted some common areas of interest, such as
distributive learning, religion and media as a new field, and emerging
new paradigms in education and ministerial formation.
     "It is gratifying to experience the high level of partnership the
seminaries share with congregations, synods and the churchwide
organization, all working together in education and spiritual and
ministerial formation of women and men who are called by God to vocations
of public ministry," said Cooper-White.
     The Rev. Richard H. Bliese, president of Luther Seminary in St.
Paul, Minn., said between 60 to 70 percent of students have broken
through old models of study. "Technology is allowing us to break through
deeper into ministry contexts and deliver theological education," he
said, adding that seminaries are exploring ways to connect more closely
with synods, congregations and other seminaries to strengthen
partnerships.
     The Rev. Jeffrey D. Thiemann, president-elect of the ELCA Board of
Pensions, and Bradley J. Joern, director of products and services at the
board, offered an update on health care reform. Joern discussed the
significant changes expected in 2014, the impact of health care reform on
the ELCA and shared some preliminary analysis of an ELCA plan. Health
care reform may have potential for significant financial savings for some
employers, and the health benefits will likely include features not
present today. The Board of Pensions will partner with ELCA stakeholders
to help navigate the coming changes and continue wellness focus "for the
sake of ministry."
     The Conference of Bishops held small group conversations with
directors for evangelical mission and staff of the ELCA Congregation and
Synodical Mission unit about accompanying congregations as they form
evangelical mission strategies. Congregational mission planning is called
for in the Living into the Future Together (LIFT) plan adopted by the
2011 Churchwide Assembly.
     The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Ohio
Synod, said congregations in her synod have begun "rolling this out.
Every congregation needs to have an assessment of who they are .
spiritually, demographically and financially," she said, adding that the
synod is offering its support. "Congregations are not alone this," Eaton
said.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United
States, with approximately 4.2 million members in 10,000 congregations
across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church
of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God
through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the
world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church
reformer, Martin Luther.

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