Assembly News

Link to written, audio, and video news releases of key events and actions from the churchwide assembly in Indianapolis.  News conferences will also be posted.

Brief Summary of Actions
summarizing key actions of the assembly
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A Brief Summary of Actions
from the Seventh Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
Indianapolis, Indiana, August 8-14, 2001

Voting members elected the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, 54, presiding bishop of the ELCA on the fifth ballot Aug. 11. Hanson is presently bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod, a position in which he has served since 1995, and is vice chair of the Conference of Bishops. Hanson was elected 533-499 over the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod and chair of the Conference of Bishops. "I do not regard this as an election won but a call received," Hanson said in his brief address to the assembly after the election. "Thank you for this holy calling. I accept it with grace and gratitude." Hanson and his wife, Ione, are parents to six children.

The Rev. Lowell G. Almen, 59, was re-elected on the fourth ballot as secretary of the ELCA. Almen has served as secretary since the ELCA was formed in 1987. Almen received 605 votes on the fourth ballot. Second was Glenndy L. Sculley, assistant to the bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod, with 379 votes. Third was Dr. Addie J. Butler, ELCA vice president, Reformation Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, with 18 votes. "I accept the renewal of the call of this church as expressed by you, to serve as secretary," Almen said to the assembly after his election. "I have had a privilege I will cherish all my life--that is the privilege of having served with Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson."

The ELCA Church Council conferred the Servus Dei Medal to Bishop Anderson and Richard L. McAuliffe, ELCA treasurer, for their service as officers of this church. Bishop Anderson will conclude his six-year term Oct. 31 and McAuliffe will conclude his service Jan. 31, 2002. Anderson and his wife, Jutta, were honored in a social gathering on Aug. 10 at the Indianapolis Zoo. Retiring Executive for Administration the Rev. Robert N. Bacher was also honored at the assembly.

Voting members adopted a bylaw amendment on ordination in "unusual circumstances," 683-330 or 67.4 percent of the vote, slightly more than the two-thirds vote required to pass the proposal. The bylaw will allow a synodical bishop, under certain circumstances, to authorize another pastor of this church to preside at an ordination. The bylaw resulted from concerns of some Lutherans related to "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), the full-communion agreement of the ELCA and Episcopal Church.

"We are concerned that the ELCA has decided to adopt the bylaw," said Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold III of the Episcopal Church, in a written statement. "This appears to be a unilateral alteration of the mutual commitment that both our churches have solemnly made to enter into full communion based on CCM. Obviously, it is too early to tell how frequently the ordination in ‘unusual circumstances’ will occur, or what the Episcopal Church's likely response will be. Only our General Convention can speak officially on that."

Later, the assembly adopted a resolution requesting that the ELCA presiding bishop "engage in continuing consultation with the presiding bishop and other representatives of the Episcopal Church," to affirm the dedication of the ELCA to live fully into CCM.

Evangelism, Ministry Strategies Adopted

Voting members adopted a new evangelism strategy for the next decade, and heard a report on the strategy for the previous 10 years. The resolution provides guidance to Lutherans to "clarify their sense of purpose and mission, seek new ways to be open to innovation and change, and share new or existing evangelism plans with the whole church prior to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly."

One amendment called for establishment of a "Blue Ribbon" task force by Jan. 3, 2002, to develop a comprehensive evangelism strategy for presentation and possible action at the 2003 Churchwide Assembly.

The assembly adopted a Latino Ministry Strategy by an overwhelming vote Aug. 11. Latinos are the fastest-growing ethnic group in ELCA congregations. The assembly also adopted a ministry strategy to reach out to Asian and Pacific Islanders, by recommitting the ELCA to partnership with existing Asian and Pacific Islander congregations, intensifying outreach with the Gospel among the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

In response to memorials from synods, voting members, by a vote of 899-115, called for a churchwide study on homosexuality, including matters related to the blessing of same-gender relationships and ordination of gay and lesbian people in committed relationships. The action also calls for a final report and an action plan for implementation to be presented to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The document is to include study of the Lutheran understanding of the Word of God and biblical, theological, scientific and practical material on homosexuality.

In a related and separate action, voting members, by vote of 624-381, asked the Church Council, the Conference of Bishops, and the Division for Ministry to create a specific plan and time line leading toward a decision concerning the rostering of homosexual persons in committed relationships. The plan and any changes that would require assembly approval will be placed before the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Presently, ELCA policy states that ordained ministers who are homosexual in their self-understanding are expected to abstain from homosexual sexual relationships.

The assembly also asked, by a vote of 581-386, for initiation of a process leading to a development of a social statement on human sexuality.

The ELCA’s seven Initiatives for a New Century, were the subject of reports throughout the assembly. Work on the initiatives has concluded. The initiatives are deepening worship life, teaching the faith, witnessing, mutual support, helping the children, connecting with youth and young adults, and developing leaders.

The assembly affirmed, by a vote of 892-25, that the ELCA accept an invitation to become a "partner in mission and dialogue" with Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), a fellowship of nine churches that share ministry together.

During the assembly, leaders of the ELCA and the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession of Brazil (IECLB) signed a "Covenant for Cooperative Mission."

The assembly acted on a variety of issues through memorials from synods and resolutions from assembly voting members. Actions included:

support for Stand With Africa, a three-year Lutheran campaign that focuses on issues significant to Africa, including HIV and AIDS, economic justice, food security, and peace and reconciliation.

an expression of concern about the plight of family farms and the economic conditions in rural communities. The proposal reaffirmed a 1999 Churchwide Assembly action that urged prayer and advocacy for those caught in the family-farm crisis, along with study of the challenges they face.

a call for continued prayer for peace in the Mideast, including an ecumenical prayer vigil; support for those in the region affected by strife, affirmation of the work of the ELCA’s Division for Global Mission and Division for Church in Society in efforts to organize more ecumenical response to the crisis; and commendation of Middle East Lutherans for their efforts for peace and aid for those caught in the crisis. The resolution requested the presiding bishop to send a letter to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, urging that diplomatic pressure be placed on those opposing peace in the Middle East; and it acknowledges the pain and suffering of all those involved in Middle East tensions.

a call for immediate cessation of U.S. Navy operations on Vieques, an island eight miles east of Puerto Rico. The action also directs the ELCA's Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs to advocate for cessation, as well as decontamination of the island from effects of bombs and other ordnance, and "prompt return of the island to its people."

Proposals totaling more than $103 million for fiscal year 2002 and more than $105 million for fiscal year 2003 were adopted. These budgets include ELCA World Hunger Appeal income proposals of $16.5 million for 2002 and $17 million for 2003.

The assembly also adopted a policy on criteria to assess school voucher proposals, affirming an interim policy of the church council.