August 25, 2005

CHICAGO/GENEVA – The Ninth Biennial Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed a variety of topics including new worship resources, interim eucharistic sharing with the United Methodist Church, ethnic ministry strategies, churchwide structure and governance, sexuality proposals and a Middle East strategy.

The assembly, ELCA's highest legislative authority met August 8-14 in Orlando, Florida under the theme, "Marked With the Cross of Christ Forever." ELCA Presiding Bishop, Mark S. Hanson, chaired the assembly attended by 2,300 people including 1,015 voting members. Hanson is also president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

The ELCA voting members initiated "Interim Eucharistic Sharing" with the United Methodist Church (UMC). The agreement, approved by the UMC Council of Bishops in April 2005, fosters mutual prayer, support and study, and encourages joint services of Holy Communion following guidelines established by both churches. It is a step that may lead to a relationship of full communion.

Assembly Acts on Sexuality Proposals

The assembly considered three recommendations forwarded by the ELCA Church Council. The recommendations resulted from a multi-year study process on sexuality led by a task force.

By a vote of 851-127, the assembly adopted Recommendation One that urges the church to "concentrate on finding ways to live together faithfully in the midst of disagreements, recognizing the God-given mission and communion we share as members of the body of Christ."

Recommendation Two was adopted by 670-323 votes as amended, asking the ELCA to "continue to respect the guidance of the 1993 statement of the Conference of Bishops," which found no basis for establishing an official ceremony for the blessing of a homosexual relationship. The assembly reiterated the church's welcome to gay and lesbian people and its trust in pastors and congregations as they "discern ways to provide faithful pastoral care for all to whom they minister."

Recommendation Three, which would have established a process by which a person living in a committed long-term homosexual relationship could seek an exception to current ELCA policy concerning rostered leaders, required a two-thirds vote to be adopted. It was defeated by 490-503 votes.

Churchwide Restructuring, Governance Proposals Adopted

By a vote of 810-169, voting members adopted proposals in "Faithful Yet Changing: Design for Mission Through the Churchwide Organization of the ELCA." Three types of units are described in the approved design for mission: program units, offices and service units. Reorganization will begin immediately and be completed by the start of the next fiscal year, 1 February 2006.

Further, the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop through its worship staff, was asked to complete the liturgical review of proposed content for a new worship book expected to be available by October 2006.

The assembly adopted new ministry strategies namely, the African Descent Ministry Strategy and an Arab and Middle Eastern Ministry Strategy, developed through the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries in consultation with representatives of each community.

Voting members also urged Lutherans to participate in a campaign, "Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land," designed to build awareness and encourage engagement in accompaniment and advocacy activities for "peace with justice" between Israel and Palestine.

Renewed Commitment to End Global Hunger

Responding to a variety of concerns that were addressed by various synods, voting members adopted a proposal for renewed commitment to end world hunger, and urged each synod to make this "core dimension" of the ELCA central to its ministry and mission.

On bio-ethical research, the assembly called for the development of a social statement that "addresses significant theological, ethical, public and pastoral challenges arising from developments in genetics" for possible consideration by the 2011 Churchwide Assembly.

The assembly approved action to "welcome and encourage task forces to empower this church in its engagement with refugee and immigrant issues" and mandated strengthening the church's work with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. It also called on the US Congress "to end immediately the detention and imprisonment of non-criminal asylum seekers, undocumented laborers" and others who are incarcerated and to "implement just, consistent and humane practices regarding the treatment of asylum seekers."

The Tenth Biennial Assembly of the ELCA will take place 6-12 August, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois.

The ELCA has around 5 million members. It joined the LWF in 1988.

Information about the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/05/ on the Web.

Lutheran World Information
Edited from the ELCA News Service.