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Conference of Bishops
A Shared Vision of Episcopacy and a Relational Agreement
The office of bishop has developed, been reformed, and locally
adapted for the sake of the Church over many centuries. As ministers of
the Gospel and in keeping with Scriptural, confessional, and
constitutional principles of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
we pledge to fulfill faithfully our responsibilities within the office
of bishop. As this church and the world move into the twenty-first
century and third millennium of Christian witness, our vision of the
office is summarized in the following four-fold description:
The Office of the Bishop within the Office of Ministry
As a priesthood of believers, all baptized Christians are called to
serve in the name of Christ. Some also are called and ordained for the
ministry of Word and Sacrament, an office given by God for the sake of
the Church. The ordained ministry of the Church, Lutherans agree, is
"basically one ministry, centered in the proclamation of the Word
of God and the administration of the Holy Sacraments. This ministry
embraces both the ministry of pastor within and for a local community of
believers and of bishop within and for a communion of local
communities" (The Lutheran Understanding of Ministry, Lutheran
World Federation, 1983). The ministry of bishops is understood as an
expression of the pastoral ministry. Describing the office of the
synodical bishop as the synod's pastor, roots this ministry most deeply
in its pastoral understanding.
The Office of the Bishop within the Life of the Church
"Each bishop shall give leadership for ordained and other
ministries; shall give leadership to the mission of this church; shall
give leadership in strengthening the unity of the church; and shall
provide administrative oversight" (ELCA Study of Ministry: Together
for Ministry, 1993). In exercising this leadership, the bishop is to
give attention to four tasks: 1. to preach and teach the apostolic faith
of the Church; 2. to provide for Word and Sacrament ministry within the
territory of the bishop's ministry, including the church's power to
ordain; 3. to oversee the work of the church's mission within the
territory of the bishop's ministry; and 4. to give witness to the unity
of the Church.
This church's understanding of the apostolic faith, and the Creeds
and Confessions that give witness to it, are described in its
constitutions under the chapter title "Confession of Faith."
The Office of the Bishop within the Nature, Purpose, and Organization
of this Church
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America understands itself to be
one church in three expressions: congregations, synods, and the
churchwide organization. Each expression is fully the church, but not,
by itself, the whole church. These expressions work interdependently,
rather than hierarchically. The ministry of bishops is to exemplify this
understanding of interdependence. Bishops are accountable to the Gospel.
Bishops are also accountable to those among whom they serve, to one
another, and to this entire church. As individuals and as a conference,
the bishops provide counsel to this church. In their public ministries,
bishops draw attention to needs that must be addressed in Church and
society.
The Office of the Bishop within a Culture of Diversity and Change
In serving the Gospel, the ministry of the bishop serves the Church.
Because the Church is called and gathered by the Holy Spirit in a wide
variety of settings and circumstances, it is useful and even necessary
for there to be a variety of gifts and styles of ministry exercised by
those called to serve as bishops. Flexibility and adaptability according
to the mission needs of the Church, but always within the confessional
and constitutional understandings of this church and the collegial
agreements of the Conference of Bishops, are both honored and
encouraged. Emphasis on the servant nature of this ministry provides the
consistency of purpose within the diversity of practice.
We view these understandings to be normative for our life and work
together as bishops. They represent our collegial intentions. They
presume that neither ecumenical agreements, nor the participation of
this church in conciliar movements or organizations with churches that
hold differing views of episcopacy, alter these understandings in any
essential way.
Relational Agreement Among
Synodical Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
This relational agreement regarding the responsibilities of the
synodical bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the
relationships between and among them has been approved by them for their
own advice and use.
Responsibilities
For the purpose of this document, it is appropriate to summarize the
responsibilities of synodical bishops as defined in the churchwide
constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA
churchwide constitutional provision 10.31.a.). Their responsibilities as
elected leaders of their synods include:
1. Worship and Spiritual Oversight. The synodical bishop, as this
synod's pastor, regularly leads worship in congregations and in other
gatherings of this church and, through a variety of activities and
contacts, teaches the Christian faith and provides spiritual leadership
and oversight in the synod.
2. Pastoral Care. The synodical bishop, as the synod's pastor, bears
major, but not sole, responsibility for the pastoral care of
congregations and rostered leaders. Providing for Word and Sacrament
ministry on the territory of the synod is fundamental to this care.
Pastoral care is often exercised through the many activities and
contacts bishops have with the people and organizations of the synod,
and through organizing the structures which are necessary to the synod's
life and mission.
3. Mission Planning. As the chief executive of the synod who is
responsible for the oversight of its life and work, the bishop is the
chief planner for its life and mission, giving ongoing attention to the
use of all its resources.
4. Mission Interpretation. The bishop is the primary spokesperson for
the synod in respect to its mission, theology, and life, both internally
and externally. It is understood that others may be given specific
interpretative assignments.
5. Mission Administration. Bishops are also the chief corporate and
executive officers of their synods. In order to give fuller attention to
other aspects of their responsibilities, it is understood that they will
often exercise this leadership by delegating major administrative tasks
to others who are accountable to them.
6. Ecumenical Relations. Bishops are the chief ecumenical officers of
the synod and are a sign of the unity of the church, between their
respective synods and other denominational families and ecumenical
organizations. It is understood that bishops may name other persons to
assist them in maintaining contacts and in carrying out specific
ecumenical and interreligious tasks.
7. Liaison. Synodical bishops, by virtue of their office, have high
visibility across this whole church. Their contacts with each other and
with the churchwide units, organizations, agencies, and institutions of
this church form a vital network marked by collegiality. Through this
network the bishops together support this church's cohesiveness and
public witness to the mission of the Church in service to the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. This relational agreement among bishops of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America is designed to assist the bishops in their
collegial relationships and contacts with one another in support of that
witness.
Principles
Given the collegial nature of the responsibilities of the synodical
bishops, it is appropriate to identify certain principles that govern
those relationships.
1. Authority. "This church recognizes that all power and
authority in the Church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, its head.
Therefore, all actions of this church...shall be carried out under his
rule and authority..." (ELCA churchwide constitution provision
5.01.). Bishops are accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ, the whole
Church, and to this church in the exercise of their ministries.
2. Grace. All humans sin and fall short of the glory of God but by
God's grace may be empowered to walk in newness of life. Bishops
recognize the reality of sin and the power of redemption both for
themselves and for those whom they serve.
3. Worthiness. Bishops recognize that leadership in the community of
Christ carries with it the responsibility to represent the community
faithfully (ELCA churchwide constitutional provision 7.22.). By the
grace of God bishops seek to live and act in a manner consistent with
the Church's confession of Christ.
4. Mercy and Justice. Bishops recognize their pastoral responsibility
both to admonish and to support those whose circumstances in life
require special care.
5. Interdependence. The constitution and polity of the ELCA envision
this church as being composed of interdependent expressions, each with
its own integrity (ELCA churchwide constitutional provisions 5.01.c. and
8.11.). Bishops recognize and support this principle.
6. Inclusiveness. Consistent with the ELCA's commitment to be an
inclusive church in the midst of the divisions in society (ELCA
churchwide constitutional provision 5.01.b.), bishops assist this church
in fulfilling that commitment through their relationships and
activities.
7. Variety of Practice. In view of the interdependence of the various
expressions of the ELCA, this church recognizes that decisions are to be
made principally by the entity most directly affected (ELCA churchwide
constitutional provision 5.01.c.). This implies that some variety of
practice will develop with integrity across this church. Bishops respect
this variety.
8. Communication. Consistent with the interdependence and integrity
of this church's various expressions and of its variety in practice,
bishops communicate with appropriate other bishops when dealing in any
way with an ordained minister, a person on the official lay rosters, a
congregation, an agency, or an institution beyond their own synod. This
communication should be done prior to any contact with a person rostered
in another synod.
9. Leadership needs. The geographic, ethnic, and social diversity of
this church means that leadership needs are equally diverse and never
uniform in opportunity from synod to synod. In working with ordained
ministers, associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers
and candidates, bishops consider persons focusing primarily upon the
needs of this church for specific leadership, while also providing
opportunity for individual preferences to be expressed and considered.
10. Fairness. Inherent in the work of a bishop is the opportunity to
gain a broader view of the needs of this church and of its public
leaders. Informed by this broader view, bishops strive to deal fairly
and evenhandedly with all candidates, rostered persons, congregations,
institutions, and agencies.
11. Confidentiality. The constitution of this church acknowledges and
obligates all ordained ministers to the historic discipline and practice
of confidentiality in the exercise of the pastoral office (ELCA
churchwide constitutional provision 7.45.). Bishops respect this
discipline and practice in conferring with each other, seeking when
appropriate the permission of the person involved before sharing
confidential information with another bishop.
12. Collegiality and Support. Because of the nature of their
responsibilities and opportunities in the Church's mission and ministry,
synodical bishops work collegially together and provide personal and
pastoral support to each other.
Applications
The following applications are illustrative of the above principles:
1. Bishops consult with the synodical bishop of the roster of an
ordained member or an associate in ministry, a deaconess, or diaconal
minister prior to consideration for call by a search committee. When
approached by another bishop's office for clearance to contact a
rostered person regarding a prospective call, a bishop shall be mindful
that ordained ministers and other rostered persons belong to the whole
ELCA and not just the particular synod in which they currently serve.
Denial to grant clearance to another bishop will be based upon the same
criteria a bishop would use in refusing to allow a rostered person's
name to be considered by a congregation in his or her own synod: e.g.,
premature interruption of present ministry (normally not less than three
years), known personal or family circumstances that preclude a move at
the present time. Recognizing the needs of the whole church for
experienced rostered leaders, bishops will seek to avoid "keeping
for my synod" an individual who is open to serve where needed.
Clearance to make direct contact with a prospective candidate will
normally be granted for any rostered person who is open for call. The
bishop of the synod of roster may inform another bishop of a rostered
person's stated desire to remain in that synod; also, other preferences
and special circumstances may be communicated confidentially
bishop-to-bishop. In general, however, encouragement to explore with a
rostered person her or his openness to be considered by a specific
calling congregation will be granted absent compelling reasons to deny
clearance. Many bishops delegate to a staff member the authority to
grant clearance and contact other synods for clearance.
2. When a local search committee approaches a bishop other than its
own in respect to candidates, that bishop will respond by asking the
committee to route its request through its own bishop.
3. When a local search committee from another synod asks a bishop for
an evaluation concerning an identified candidate known to that bishop,
that bishop may provide such an evaluation, informing the bishop of the
synod to which the committee is related of the evaluation.
4. When requesting or considering an exception to policy or practice,
synodical bishops recognize that exceptions may create injustices for
others who are not aware of, considered for, or granted such exceptions.
5. Since servanthood in behalf of the Gospel is a mark of the
Christian life and therefore of the Church's public forms of ministry,
synodical bishops do not equate success with specific titles,
compensation, responsibility, or location in ministry for themselves or
others.
6. Bishops are always building relationships with one another.
Critical to this process is the expectation that bishops will be
initially candid and sufficient in recommending a candidate to another
bishop. A test of the necessity of sharing information with another
bishop is: "What information would be helpful to me in
consideration of the recommendation of a candidate for call?"
7. Bishops are always building relationships with parish pastors,
churchwide partners, and with agencies and institutions of this church.
Through these relationships they are assisted in the critical task of
making personnel recommendations.
8. Bishops cannot assure any candidate of a call since this church
has not made that commitment. However, bishops may provide the
opportunity for candidates to be considered by appropriate congregations
as calling or employing agencies.
9. In dealing with first calls, bishops made judgments fairly and
evenhandedly considering the following:
a. Assessing the particular needs and opportunities in a ministry
setting.
b. Assessing the skills, resources, and capacities of individual
candidates for particular ministries.
c. Considering the preferences and restrictions of individual
candidates.
d. Examining the priorities and preferences of the congregation or
other entity involved in the call or employment.
10. When a candidate has been assigned to a synod, the bishop will
make prompt and regular contact with the candidate.
11. Bishops will not condone or support any attempts to arrange
conversations or negotiations between candidates and congregations or
other entities involved in calls or employment prior to the formal
assignment of the candidate to the synod.
12. Bishops will not condone or support attempts by candidates,
congregations, or calling entities to consider a candidate outside of
the synod of assignment without the consent of the synodical bishop of
assignment.
13. The
bishops involved must approve the reassignment of a candidate from one
synod to another. They will consult with the staff person of the Synodical Relations
unit, who is responsible for the
reassignment, before the staff acts on such requests by candidates.
14. By mutual
agreement between the two bishops, a candidate assigned to one synod may
be considered in another synod without reassignment. Responsibility for
the candidate rests with the synod of assignment. Such a "contingency
assignment" should be communicated in writing to the Synodical Relations
unit.
15. Letters of Call are attested by bishops (†S8.12.e. in the
Constitution for Synods). This is required for the issuance of a
regular, recognized Letter of Call in this church. As the note on the
form indicates, such attestation signifies that the call has been
properly extended and that the stated terms are accurate. Letters of
Call also are attested by the bishop, assuring that the conditions of
service are consonant with ELCA documents. In both cases, attestation
means that the person called is properly qualified. It does not imply
approval of the "match" between the person and the position.
16. On behalf of this church, the bishop ordains (or provides for the
ordination of) candidates. Ordinations are arranged and conducted
consistent with the policy and practice of the synod whose bishop
authorizes them. When the ordination actually takes place in another
synod, however, then it must be consistent with the policy and practice
of that synod. A bishop who authorizes an ordination in another synod
will consult with and obtain the approval of that bishop prior to any
planning for the ordination.
17. The practices of bishops differ in nominating candidates to
congregations, agencies, and institutions both in respect to the number
of persons nominated and the number of nominations a candidate may have
simultaneously. Synodical bishops respect these differing practices and
keep one another appropriate informed.
18. Bishops normally attach a letter of recommendation to Mobility
Information Forms and may also include a confidential information form.
19. In order to meet the full range of needs in the ELCA for ordained
ministers and other rostered persons, synodical bishops give priority to
less popular locations and areas of the nation when determining
synodical and regional assignment and reassignment.
20. Meetings of the Conference of Bishops are a high priority for
synodical bishops, for the sake of one's self and each other.
21. Continuing education for bishops through the Academy for Bishops
holds the same high priority.
22. Information critical of another synodical bishop is shared with
that bishop. After conferring with the colleague, the bishop receiving
the information determines a response that is supportive of the
colleague and appropriate to the person supplying the information and
the situation.
23. Bishops recognize that the ongoing commitment of the ELCA to
receive new members who are persons of color or persons whose primary
language is other than English requires careful and constant focus in
all aspects of the life of the synods. One aspect to which bishops give
particular attention in respect to this goal is the development of
current and future leaders of this church. Therefore, synodical bishops
work regularly with committees, institutions, and other entities in
order to develop the leadership of such ethnic persons for:
—graduate studies in theology and in other special disciplines
needed by this church; —military chaplaincy; —supervisors in
Clinical Pastoral Education; —ministries in ethnic communities; —ministries
in the inner city; —ministries in isolated rural areas; —ministries
in economically limited areas; and —ministries in more traditional
settings
24. Synodical bishops exercise caution and selectivity for the sake
of this church when responding to ordained ministers and others outside
the ELCA for admission to service as ordained ministers and associates
in ministry, deaconesses, or diaconal ministers.
25. Both in establishing policy for the nomination of persons for
call and in actual nominations, bishops give particular attention to
persons who experience difficulty for reasons of: —ethnic background;
—gender; —marriage to another ordained minister or associate in
ministry; —age (especially those over 50); —challenging personal
conditions; —service in the military chaplaincy; and —returning from
overseas mission assignments.
26. It is expected that when a synodical bishop leaves the office,
the former bishop will continue to be a resource to this church,
including those currently serving in the office of bishops. Often
information concerning rostered persons or congregations in crisis will
be of benefit to the bishop. It is essential that the trust between
present and former bishop will permit the open exchange of pertinent
information in a candid and sufficient manner.
Most recent amendment, March 9, 1999, by the Conference of Bishops
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