Conference of Bishops, Standing Committees:

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is comprised of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Agenda Committee Chair, Presiding Bishop, and Secretary of the ELCA. Staff liaison is the Executive Assistant to the Presiding Bishop/Director for Synodical Relations. The Executive Committee makes decisions on behalf of the Conference, makes recommendations of appointments to standing committees, gives oversight for Conference of Bishops' meetings and, as needed, assigns work to committees and task forces, coordinates consideration of concerns, issues, and requests for or between meetings of the Conference; offers advice, counsel and support to the Presiding Bishop as requested; and, works as a part of the agenda committee to prepare agendas for Conference Meetings.
 

Committee on Academy and Bishop Formation
The Academy and Bishop Formation Committee is responsible for assisting newly elected bishops in becoming familiar with the Office of Bishop as well as helping them make connections with partners throughout the entire ELCA.  The committee also assign mentors [veteran bishops] to be available for each newly elected bishop to relate to as needed.

The Academy is an annual continuing education event for members of the Conference of Bishops only. Typically the Academy is held during the first days of January each year, and attempt to provide stimulating presenters on a variety of topics. One of the most important components of the Academy is the opportunity for fellowship and relationship building among the colleagues who make up the Conference.

Committee on Roster
The Roster Committee of the Conference of Bishops functions for the purpose of reviewing roster criteria and procedures for requests from synods and providing recommendations for action by the Conference of Bishops relative to ELCA constitutional requirements for roster categories. Specific roster matters address by the Committee are: 

> Exception for Three Year Parish Service Rule

> Extension of Three Year On Leave From Call status 

> Calls to Non-Congregational Service 

> Calls to Non-Stipendiary Service 

> Calls to Serve in Unusual Circumstances

James Mauney

Duane Danielson

Stephen Talmage

James Stuck, Chair

Duane Pederson

David Zellmer

H. Gerard Knoche

David Swartling
Kathie Bender Schwich, staff

Paul Schreck, staff

Liaison with Vocation and Education
The Liaison Committee to the Division for Ministry from the Conference of Bishops is intended to be in an advisory role to the staff of the Division for Ministry and to the Division's Board. Proposed new and revised policies are reviewed and recommendations are made to matters under consideration by the Division. These items may be generated by the Division, by referral from the Church Council, or by referral from the Conference of Bishops. This Liaison Committee reports to the Conference of Bishops at its meetings, receives the counsel of the CoB, and raises with the Division for Ministry staff questions generated in the meetings and conversations of the bishops.

Martin D. Wells, Chair
Craig E. Johnson
David A. Donges
Marcus C. Lohrmann
Marie C. Jerge
Gerald L. Mansholt
Steve Ullestad
Marcia Johnson, Staff

Liaison with Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations
The Liaison Committee to the Department for Ecumenical Affairs [EA] facilitates communication and coordination between the Conference of Bishops and EA to assist both in their work.

The committee will:

> maintain awareness of the EA's work through personal attention and

   through regular reports from staff

> assist in interpreting the EA's work to the other bishops

   be a channel for counsel and questions from COB to EA

   as requested, assist the COB in dealing with ecumenical matters by

   providing resources and resource people, framing questions, and

   consulting on related matters

> encourage COB members in carrying out their ecumenical

   responsibilities within their synods, including their use of Lutheran

   Ecumenical Representatives Network [LERN] representatives

> encourage COB members who have accepted special assignments to

   dialogue teams or ecumenical governing boards [these bishops will also

   be invited to be advisory members of the committee]

> individual committee members may be given ecumenical assignments

   by this church

Robert D. Hofstad
Philip L. Hougen

Stephen P. Bouman

Jessica Crist

Elizabeth Eaton

Cal Holloway

Gary Wollersheim

Claire Burkat
Don McCoid, Staff

Companion Synod Liaison Committee
The Companion Synod Liaison Committee of the Conference of Bishops seeks to enhance and strengthen relationships between ELCA bishops and their companion synod or diocese. In addition, the committee seeks to assist when policy or difficult situations might develop in these relationships. Finally, the committee encourages and assists with orientation of newly elected bishops.

Richard Foss

April Ulring Larson

Michael Last

Leonard Bolick, Chair

Wilma Kucharek

Richard Graham

John Schreiber

Larry Wohlrabe
Rafael Malpica-Padilla (staff)

Liaison with Church Council
"The Church Council shall have as advisory members nine synodical bishops, each elected by the Conference of Bishops to one four-year term. One bishop shall be elected from each region." [ELCA Constitution 14.32.01]. Advisory members to the church council shall have voice but not vote. The Chair of the Conference of Bishops offers a report on behalf of the Conference at each regularly scheduled Council meeting.

Martin Wells (2009)

Murray Finck (2011)

Peter Rogness (2009)

Gerald Mansholt (2011)

Paul Stumme-Diers (2011)

Cal Holloway (2011)

Marie Jerge (2009)

Jerry Knoche (2011)

Leonard Bolick (2009)

Committee on Theological and Ethical Concerns
Assisted by this committee, the conference serves as a forum for reflections upon the theological and ethical implications of issues that affect this church.  > pastoral letters
 

David Mullen

Jon Anderson

Floyd Schoenhals

Margaret Payne, Chair

Robert Driesen

David Brauer-Rieke

H. Julian Gordy

David Strobel
Kathie Bender Schwich, staff

Synodical-Churchwide Relations
The Synodical-Churchwide Relations Committee is established to assist churchwide units and related organizations in securing review, advice, consultation, and recommendations by the Conference of Bishops on policies and programs. It is available to churchwide units and other ELCA entities that do not have a continuing liaison committee with the conference.
 

Thomas Skrenes

Gregory Pile

Ray Tiemann, Chair

Ed Benoway

Marie Jerge

Harold Usgaard

Chris Boerger

John Schreiber
Charles Miller, staff

Wyvetta Bullock, staff
Kathie Bender Schwich, staff

Craig Settlage, staff

Shared Risk Administration Committee
The Shared Risk Fund, established by the Conference of Bishops in 1992, permits participating synods a degree of protection against the costs of disciplinary proceedings against rostered leaders and congregations. After a deductible of $10,000 has been satisfied, eligible expenses may be submitted for partial or full reimbursement according to Fund guidelines. Premiums of $2.00 per rostered person and $2.00 per congregation are paid by synods.

Ed Benoway

B. Penrose Hoover

Ralph Dunkin, Chair
Marcia Johnson, staff

Phillip Harris, staff
 

Good Samaritan Committee
This committee reviews the history of the usage of funds, decides on focus groups and appropriate application forms. Reviews the work of the Department for Synodical Relations in overseeing the fund.

Warren Freiheit, Chair

Marie Jerge

James Mauney

Roy Riley
Marcia Johnson, staff
Christina Jackson-Skelton, Office of the Treasurer

Committee on Ministry Among People in Poverty
The Mission Statement of the Committee on Ministry Among People in Poverty: "Rooted in the biblical witness and shaped by the compassion of Christ, we assist the Conference of Bishops in engaging the church in ministry with and among persons in poverty." The committee's work revolves around five strategies:
 
1. Hold one another [i.e., ELCA bishops] accountable for living out our commitment to ministry with and among persons in poverty in our synodical work. 

2. Advocate for all our actions and decisions to be considered for their effect on the poor. 

3. Build awareness of and support for current effective work and potential new work. 

4. Serve as liaison with churchwide units and other partnerships, stimulating linkages with local ministries. 

5. Encourage personal experiences and encounters, locally and globally, with people living in poverty as a way to enliven the church.

ELCA's Social Statement: "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All"

Peter Rogness

Ralph Dunkin

Michael Keys

Wayne Miller

Felipe Lozada

Roy Riley

Paul Stumme-Diers, Chair

Kathie Bender Schwich, staff