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Social
Statements and Messages | Policies
and Procedures Index
Sphere 4: Interpreting &
Applying Social Policy
Description
The fourth sphere of activity is that of interpreting and
applying the social policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America to public and corporate policy. This sphere of activity
lifts up ELCA social policy documents and assists this church to
consider the ways that its policy illuminates, forms, critiques, and
guides human behavior and the structures of church and society.
Further, it assists this church in its institutional policies and
practices, including decisions about the biennial advocacy plan of
this church. This sphere of activity typically results in documents
and narratives that are expository and descriptive in nature.
Messages are one form of document in this sphere of activity serving
both to interpret ELCA social policy and promote moral deliberation
(see sphere two).
This sphere of activity does not preclude or replace other ways in
which social policy is interpreted within this church. ELCA social
policy is interpreted daily by pastors, bishops, advocates in public
and corporate sectors, and other church leaders (local, synodical,
churchwide) as they live out their callings. In addition, some
educational materials developed by churchwide units also are
designed to interpret social statements. In the activity described
in this sphere, however, the interpretation of this church’s social
policy is viewed as formal exposition and requires affirmation by
the Church in Society unit and review by the Church Council. The
program committee for the Church in Society unit has in its advisory
role an important and integral part in this process.
Procedures
| 1. |
The Church in Society
unit shall manage this sphere of activity according to
established procedures.
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| 2. |
The frequency of
developing interpretative material shall depend on such
criteria as timeliness, expressed need by members of this
church, and participation in ecumenical or interfaith
coalitions addressing specific social topics for which this
church has policy.
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| 3. |
The Church in Society
unit shall have responsibility to affirm activity in this
sphere, and the Church Council shall review it. |
| 4. |
The Church in Society
unit shall inform the Office of the Presiding Bishop and the
Conference of Bishops of this interpretative activity in a
timely way.
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Abiding Attitudes and Aims
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sets forth these
policies and procedures as a means to enrich faithful social
responsibility and effective social witness. Throughout the four
spheres of activity outlined above, it strives to be guided by some
abiding attitudes and aims:
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that its posture be self-critical, modest,
and authentic; |
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that its conversations be
characterized by respect for participants and others; |
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that its deliberation be based upon careful
analysis; |
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that it not simplify complex
issues and not accept easy answers to difficult problems;
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that in its ministry this
church use the rich resources of its members, agencies, and
institutions as well as those from other churches and
ecumenical bodies; and |
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that, being transformed and
renewed by the Gospel, members of this church may “discern
what is the will of God–what is good and acceptable and
perfect” (Romans 12:2). |
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Through committed and balanced attention to the four spheres of
activity may the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America make a
significant contribution to the society and world in witness to
God’s just and loving intention for all of creation and in grateful
response to God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ.
APPENDIX
“MESSAGES ON SOCIAL ISSUES”*
Description
Messages are normally brief communications that draw
attention to a social issue and encourage action on it. They provide
this church flexibility to respond on selected occasions with timely
and perceptive counsel on new situations and pressing concerns.
Messages are communications that the Church Council adopts and are
thus distinct from social statements, which are adopted only by the
Churchwide Assembly. Messages are not the result of widespread
deliberation in this church (as are social statements) but are
intended primarily to encourage further discussion and action on
specific current social issues among ELCA members. They are not new
policy positions of the ELCA but build upon previously adopted
social statements and social policy resolutions.
Messages address the contemporary situation in light of the
prophetic and compassionate traditions of Scripture. They point to
human suffering, grave injustice, pending danger, social perplexity,
or hopeful developments and urge that evil be resisted, justice
done, and commitment renewed.
Messages express the convictions of the leaders of this church who
communicate them and who believe that their message should be heard
in this church and beyond. They signal certain priority concerns
that arise from this church’s mission in the world. Messages are
based upon and are consistent with this church’s social statements
and social policy resolutions. Normally, no more than one message is
considered in each meeting of the Church Council.
The Church in Society unit and the Office of the Presiding Bishop
shall consult with each other to ensure proper coordination in the
preparation and distribution of non-policy churchwide messages on
social concerns.
Procedures
| 1. |
The Church in Society unit
shall oversee the development of messages on social issues.
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| a. |
The Church in Society unit
shall work closely with the Office of the Presiding Bishop,
other churchwide units, and synods in the selection of
issues and the preparation of messages. |
| b. |
The Church in Society unit
shall be guided by the following criteria in selecting
issues for messages: |
| 1. |
the issue’s consistency with this church’s
social state ments and social policy resolutions; |
| 2. |
its pertinence to this church’s ongoing
mission; |
| 3. |
its significance in society; and |
| 4. |
its timeliness and urgency. |
| c. |
When the Church in Society unit
begins work on a message, it shall notify the Office of the
Presiding Bishop about its plans to present a message to the
Church Council. |
| d. |
The program committee shall
review and recommend to the executive director of the unit
that the proposed message be adopted by the Church Council.
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| e. |
The executive director of the
unit shall receive the recommendation of the program
committee and shall recommend to the Church Council that it
adopt the proposed message. |
| f. |
The Church in Society unit
shall be responsible for the production and distribution of
adopted messages. |
| 2. |
The Office of the Presiding
Bishop shall coordinate the plans for proposed messages from
the Church in Society unit with the Church Council. |
| a. |
When the Church in Society unit
begins work on a message, the Office of the Presiding Bishop
shall notify the Church Council of the unit’s plan to
present a message to the council. |
| b. |
The Office of the Presiding
Bishop shall ensure that the Church Council receives the
text of the message after it is recommended by the executive
director of the Church in Society unit. |
| 3. |
The Church Council shall act
upon the recommendations from the executive director of the
Church in Society unit and adopt, modify, or reject the
message. |
| 4. |
Under extraordinary
circumstances, the Church Council, after consultation with
the Church in Society unit, may suspend these procedures
(which normally take at least two or three months) to
respond to an especially urgent situation. |
Adapted from “Messages on Social Issues,” which was approved
by the board of the Commission for Church in Society of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, October 7, 1989, and adopted
by the Church Council, November 19, 1989.
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