Role of the Church Council

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is comprised of the four churchwide officers and 33 additional voting members from throughout this church elected by the Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide officers serve as voting members of the Churchwide Assembly by virtue of their office. Unless elected as voting members by their synods, the remaining members of the Church Council serve as advisory members of the Churchwide Assembly with voice but not vote.

In accord with the ELCA constitution and bylaws, the Church Council is the “interim legislative authority” between meetings of the Churchwide Assembly. In this role, the Church Council reviews recommendations from churchwide units for consideration by the Churchwide Assembly, arranges for appropriate elections, adopts policies, and a budget proposal for Churchwide Assembly action, and oversees the work of the churchwide organization. At the Churchwide Assembly, members of the Church Council are present to advise voting members on Church Council actions related to these responsibilities. In addition to its advisory function, the Church Council appoints members of the Memorials Committee and the Committee of Reference and Counsel. Members of the Church Council chair these committees and make up a portion of the members. Church Council members also provide leadership by facilitating the hearings and leading prayer during plenary sessions.

How does a matter get placed on the assembly agenda?

There are several routes to the agenda of the Churchwide Assembly. Items can be requested by previous assemblies. Any Churchwide Assembly can recommend that an item under consideration be brought to a later assembly. Several items on the agenda for the 2007 Churchwide Assembly were so requested by previous assemblies, including the proposed social statement on education. Previous assemblies also have requested reports from continuing programs such as from the directors for Justice for Women, Evangelism, and ELCA World Hunger Program and Appeal. These will be provided as matters of information.

Items can be placed on the agenda by action of the Church Council. The Church Council plays a critical role in recommending agenda items for consideration by the Churchwide Assembly. At the 2007 Churchwide Assembly, for instance, consideration of "Book of Faith : Lutherans Read the Bible," proposals from the Blue Ribbon Committee on Mission Funding, and reception and celebration of Evangelical Lutheran Worship will have first been discussed and then recommended for consideration by the Church Council.

Memorials from synodical assemblies also bring items to the assembly agenda. The Memorials Committee receives memorials submitted by synodical assemblies during the biennium and prepares recommended responses for consideration by the Churchwide Assembly. 

The Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA also places certain matters before the assembly such as the election of churchwide officers, and members of the Church Council, boards and program committees.

Voting members may include items on the agenda by submitting resolutions in accordance with the rules of the assembly. The Committee of Reference and Counsel reviews these resolutions and makes recommendations for possible action by the Churchwide Assembly. For more information on resolutions see Memorials and Resolutions.

Report of the Church Council

Return to the Preparation Materials Page

© Evangelical Lutheran Church in America  800/638-3522 | Mailing Address  | Site Map | Privacy Policy |  Terms of Use |