ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 16, 2003 ELCA Assembly Declines Taking Step to Larger Church Council 03-CWA-46-DM MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) declined to begin a process that could lead to expanding the ELCA Church Council from 37 to 69 voting members -- one member elected by each of the ELCA's 65 synods plus its four churchwide officers. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. There are about 2,100 people participating, including 1,031 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: For the Healing of the World." The assembly voted 643-320 to adopt a recommendation of the memorials committee to affirm the current model of the Church Council, with 37 voting members, as the churchwide board of directors. But that vote came after a more narrow 428 to 554 vote against considering a substitute motion that would have reaffirmed a request of the 2001 Churchwide Assembly to consider a new model that would have a 69-member Church Council elected largely by the synods. The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod, offered the substitute, which he said would build "better connections" within the church. The 37-member Church Council currently is elected by the churchwide assembly. Rogness proposed that consideration be given to a larger Church Council elected by the synods that also would replace the boards that currently have oversight over churchwide divisions. He said the net effect would be to reduce the total number of people involved in churchwide governance and could save more than $200,000 a year in meeting costs. Although Rogness' proposal was never actually before the assembly -- technically at issue was whether or not to substitute it for the memorials committee recommendations -- voting members spent most of the debate arguing its pros and cons. David E. Laden, voting member, ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod, said Rogness' proposal "will strengthen our connectedness as congregations, synods and churchwide [organization]." Arguing against it, the Rev. Gregory R. Pile, bishop of the ELCA Allegheny Synod, said it would centralize power. Ultimately, the assembly voted not to substitute it for the memorials committee's recommendation. By finally adopting that recommendation, the assembly not only kept the current structure but asked for exploration of ways for the Church Council, churchwide officers and executives of divisions to have systematic contact with the synods. -- -- -- Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.elca.org/assembly/03 on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news