Title: ELCA Seeks to Increase Representation of Youth and Persons With
Disabilities
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 20, 1997

ELCA SEEKS TO INCREASE REPRESENTATION
OF YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
97-CA-48-RF

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Youth, young adults and persons with
disabilities may have greater representation in the business of the church
as a result of actions taken by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America's fifth biennial assembly meeting here Aug. 14-20.
     The actions were the result of a number of proposals for action
submitted by voting members from around the United States and Caribbean
that were referred to churchwide units for study and recommendations before
the next assembly in 1999.
     On recommendation of the committee on reference and counsel, the
assembly:
  *  Referred a motion by Meredith Diane Lovell, Delaware-Maryland Synod,
  that synods (geographical areas) have youth and young adult members in
  their delegations to the Churchwide Assembly.   The motion also urges
  congregations to include youth under age 21 and young adults aged 21-30
  as voting members to synod assemblies. The synod bishops are asked to
  offer recommendations to the Church Council in April 1998.
  * Approved in principle a motion by Bishop Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl,
  South Dakota Synod, that the Church Council include in its membership
  two youth/young adult voting members among its number.  The council
  currently has two youth/young adult advisory members.
  *  Approved in principle and referred to the Church Council resolutions
  by Sunshine B. Keiser, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, and Jeffrey
  Kane, New England Synod,  encouraging that at least one person with a
  disability be included on all churchwide councils, committees, boards
  and organizational units and that a council for disability issues be
  studied.
  In other actions, the assembly:
  *  Referred to the legal and constitutional review committee of the
  Church Council a motion by Kane, that would allow voting members of the
  Churchwide Assembly to have voice at synod assemblies as advisory
  members.
  *  Referred to the Board of Pensions a request submitted by Bishop Lee
  M. Miller, Upstate New York Synod, to explore ways to reduce "out of
  pocket" medical costs for rostered persons in their first three years
  of ministry.
  *  Referred to the Board of Pensions, ELCA Foundation and Division for
  Ministry, a motion by Bradley C. Jenson, Northeastern Minnesota Synod,
  requesting the Board of Pensions to include rostered persons age 35 and
  up in retirement financial planning sessions.
  *  Referred a motion by Annette Crickenberger, Eastern North Dakota
  Synod, amending the Model Constitution for Congregations to add: "or a
  candidate for the roster of ordained ministers who has been recommended
  to the congregation by the synodical bishop," to the legal and
  constitutional review committee.

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html