April 18, 2011

CHICAGO – The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) recommended the 2011 Churchwide Assembly adopt a new ELCA social statement and launch a churchwide malaria campaign. It also affirmed a mission statement with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and elected a new council member.

The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and interim legislative authority between assemblies. It met here April 9-10.

The council asked the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which meets in August in Orlando, to adopt "Genetics, Faith and Responsibility" as an ELCA social statement. The council made minor revisions to the recommended text and implementing resolutions.

It also recommended that the assembly launch the ELCA Malaria Campaign under the auspices of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal "as a major fundraising effort" of the church, its affiliated ministries and auxiliaries. The campaign's goal is to raise $15 million over a four-year period. The council recommended the campaign "encompass the best efforts of this church to join companion churches in Africa to contain deaths related to malaria by 2015." It recommended the campaign be developed in ways that complement efforts of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal "to achieve and grow" beyond its own annual goals.

The council heard reports and acted on several other matters: + It received and affirmed a "Statement of Mission" adopted by the ELCA Conference of Bishops and the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. + The council approved a purpose statement of the North American Regional Committee of the Lutheran World Federation. + It elected the Rev. Yvonne I. Marshall, Council Bluffs, Iowa, to complete the unexpired term of the Rev. Michael J. Schmidt, Sioux City, Iowa, who resigned because he accepted a new call in a different synod. Marshall's term will expire in 2015. + It recommended to the churchwide assembly a series of continuing resolutions related to the redesign of the ELCA churchwide organization. + The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), thanked 12 retiring members of the ELCA Church Council for their "spiritual leadership" during their six-year terms. Hanson commented after hearing the reflections of the 12 whose terms will expire at the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

The departing council members commented about their experiences during the past six years in a closed session of the council.

Hanson said the council members expressed care and concern for each other during their terms. He said their commitment to each other is "a reflection of how you have expressed care, concern and commitment for this whole church."

Hanson said the way in which the council conducted itself was "mirrored in how the (2009) Churchwide Assembly did its work."

"In many respects, the lasting legacy of this council will be your spiritual leadership in this church," Hanson said. "That is no small thing to give thanks to God for."

ELCA News Service