October 9, 2011

CHICAGO – "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.

ELCA News Service