Who Attends the Churchwide Assembly?

Voting Members

This year in Chicago, 1,071 members of congregations throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will gather as voting members of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to make decisions on behalf of this whole church. With the exception of the four churchwide officers (presiding bishop, vice president, secretary, and treasurer), who are ex officio voting members of each Churchwide Assembly, these voting members were elected in 2006 at synodical assemblies. The governing documents of this church direct that each synod “shall elect one voting member...for every 5,800 baptized members in the synod” and “one voting member for every 50 congregations in the synod.” Each synod is entitled to at least two voting members. Synodical bishops also are ex officio voting members of the Churchwide Assembly. Unless otherwise determined by the synod, the synodical vice president shall serve as a voting member of the Churchwide Assembly. Voting members of the Churchwide Assembly must be voting members of a congregation of this church. The rules governing the selection of voting members also direct that 60 percent of the voting members will be lay persons, half of whom are female and half of whom are male. At least 10 percent of the voting members are to be persons of color or whose primary language is other than English. The ELCA Church Council assigns additional voting members to some of the smaller synods of this church in order to provide greater geographical representation and to ensure the appropriate gender and ethnic-specific balance called for by this church’s governing documents.

Advisory Members

In addition to voting members, the Churchwide Assembly has advisory members to assist in its work. Members of the ELCA Church Council, program committee chairpersons, and board chairpersons, unless elected as voting members, serve as advisory members. In addition, executive directors of the churchwide program units and the executive assistants to the presiding bishop serve as advisory members. Advisory members have voice but not vote.

Other Non-Voting Members

The governing documents of this church allow the Churchwide Assembly to establish other categories of non-voting members, as well. The presidents of this church’s colleges, universities, and seminaries are granted voice but not vote at each Churchwide Assembly.

Seminary Faculty Resource Persons

The president of each ELCA seminary is invited to appoint a representative from the seminary's faculty to serve as a seminary faculty resource person for each Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The faculty representatives have voice, if so granted in the assembly’s rules, but not vote in plenary sessions of the assembly. 

Persons recommended by the presiding bishop of this church or by the Church Council who, because of their position or expertise, can contribute to the work of the Churchwide Assembly, serve as resource members. They have voice only with respect to matters within their expertise, but not vote.

Congregation Observers

Each congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is invited to register with the secretary of this church one congregation observer for the Churchwide Assembly prior to May 31, 2007. Such individuals have reserved seating in the observers section of the plenary hall and receive a copy of the report of recommendations for assembly action and  materials distributed on the plenary floor to voting members, advisory members, and non-voting members during the assembly.  Observers have neither voice nor vote in plenary sessions of the assembly. A registration fee of $150 has been established by the secretary of this church for administrative costs and materials. Observers may purchase the same meals as are provided for voting members.  Transportation costs, housing, and related expenses shall be the responsibility of the registered observer or sending congregation.

Visitors

The ranks of the assembly are swelled by the large number of visitors who attend the Churchwide Assembly to participate in worship and to watch the legislative work of the assembly. Visitors have access to a special section of seating on the assembly floor and may attend other events associated with the assembly as space permits. You may register as a visitor by filling out the appropriate form. The registration fee for a visitor is $50 for the week. A group rate of $25 per day is available for a congregation’s catechism class.

Staff of the Churchwide Organization

In order to facilitate the work of the assembly, a number of staff persons from the Lutheran Center in Chicago work at the Churchwide Assembly. Staff members from the Office of the Presiding Bishop assist primarily in establishing the assembly’s agenda and assist various assembly committees in their work. Staff in the Office of the Secretary are responsible for the physical logistics of the assembly, overseeing the election process, and recording the minutes of the assembly. Members of the  Communication Unit are involved by working with representatives of the media, issuing press releases about actions taken by the assembly, and coordinating all video and audio support required on the floor of the assembly. Worship services are prepared and directed by members of the worship staff. In addition, a small number of staff members attend the assembly in order to answer questions about the work of the churchwide organization.

Volunteers

Finally, the work of this Churchwide Assembly would be impossible without the assistance of people who live in the greater Chicago area. A Local Arrangements Committee assists the assembly planning committee in making arrangements for the assembly and by providing hospitality to those who gather from around the country. More than 1,000 volunteers devote many hours of their time in a variety of capacities to make the assembly a success. If you would like to volunteer, please submit your inquiry to the Metropolitan Chicago Synod Local Arrangements Committee.

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