|
|
2009
ELCA Churchwide Assembly
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ELCA Assembly Adopts 
'Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust'
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted "Human Sexuality: Gift and
Trust" with a vote of 676 (66.67 percent) to 338 (33.33 percent) on
Aug. 19. The passing of the social statement on human sexuality
required a two-thirds vote.
Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust is the denomination's 10th social
statement. It addresses a spectrum of topics relevant to human
sexuality from a Lutheran perspective.
Social statements "guide us as we step forward as a public church
because they form the basis for both this church's public policy and my
public speech as presiding bishop," the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA
presiding bishop, told the assembly.
An ad hoc committee
addressed 13 proposals to amend the social statement from voting
members and 42 "memorials" or resolutions from the 65 synods of the
ELCA. They ranged from editorial amendments to changing the intent and
coherence of the existing text.
With a 303 to 667 vote, voting members defeated an amendment to
replace a section of the social statement about "lifelong monogamous
same-gender relationships" -- a section that identifies the issues
within the denomination about homosexuality, describing a range of
widely articulated views. The proposed replacement language reflected
the position of some in the church that believe the "practice of
homosexual erotic behavior as contrary to God's intent."
The ad hoc committee
recommended that the amendment not be adopted, since the position
articulated implies "a consensus that no longer exists."
After considering 6 of the 13 amendments, voting members moved to accept the recommendations of the ad hoc committee on all other amendments and moved to consider the adoption of the social statement.
Click here for the entire article.
|
|
|
|
ELCA Assembly Continues Through Severe Weather in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) - Strong winds and heavy rain damaged the
90-year-old metal steeple at Central Lutheran Church here and damaged a
section of the roof of the Minneapolis Convention Center, the site of
the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA).
There were no immediate reports of injury, according to the Associated Press (AP).
In addition, the AP reported that "outdoor tents and chairs" set
up outside for the ELCA assembly were scattered, and some trees were
toppled by the storm.
The severe weather moved through the downtown area of Minneapolis
shortly after the assembly's afternoon plenary session began Aug. 19.
Convention center security staff moved all voting members, staff and
visitors into Hall E, the assembly plenary hall in the convention
center, and Hall D, the worship space. All remained there for about
one hour while the storms passed, and the assembly continued without
interruption.
At the time of the storm, Dr. Diane Jacobson, professor of Old
Testament, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and director of the Book
of Faith Initiative, was leading a scheduled Bible study.
|
ELCA Assembly Endorses Immigration Reform
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America Churchwide Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Aug. 19, to urge
reform in the nation's current immigration policy. By a vote of 870 to
67, voters agreed to urge comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration
policies and processes, and to call for suspension of immigration raids
until such reform is enacted.
Former director of Baltimore-based Lutheran Immigration and
Refugee Service, Rallie Deffenbaugh, told voters that the nation's
immigration system is broken. He argued championing reform "is just and
welcomes the newcomers among us."
Jennifer DeLeon, a voting member from the ELCA Metropolitan
Chicago Synod, declared, "We are an undocumented church. We have
congregations and pastors who cannot serve their members because they
are being harassed by the federal immigration service."
Voting members also approved, all by wide margins, memorials
(resolutions brought from individuals and synods) that would advocate
for justice for women; encourage providing worship and education
materials for blind and visually impaired church members; and enable
recruitment of people of color as clergy candidates. |
ELCA Assembly Urged by LYO to Address Racial, Sexuality Issues
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America are leaders, said Nicolette Faison, newly elected president of
the Lutheran Youth Organization LYO of the ELCA.
Faison spoke to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly during Wednesday morning's plenary session.
The LYO is an organization of high-school age young people who are
members of the ELCA. They met in Hattiesburg, Miss., to elect officers
and vote on various resolutions.
Resolutions adopted by the LYO urged the passage of the ELCA
social statement "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," and expressed
concern for: victims of Hurricane Katrina, genocide in the Darfur
Region of Sudan, the fight against HIV and AIDS and advocating for
youth and young adult representation in the ELCA.
"We are hoping that you will vote for at least 10 percent of
voting members at the 2011 Churchwide Assembly to be youth and young
adults," Faison said.
She also spoke of the organization's experience learning about the
Mississippi freedom schools in Hattiesburg in 1964 and how the
attendees shared its own personal experiences with racism in the church.
"We, the youth, are people of color," Faison said.
Members of the Lutheran Youth Convocation also spoke to the churchwide assembly about their beliefs as youth of the church.
"I believe that we (youth) are not the future of the ELCA: We are the present," one speaker said.
|
 ELCA Assembly Votes to Raise $10 Million for HIV, AIDS Strategy
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) voted 884 to 41 to raise $10 million dollars to support
the ELCA HIV and AIDS strategy.
Planners hope to raise the money over the next three years
(2009-2012). The $1 million goal encouraged by the 2007 Churchwide
Assembly will be included in the $10 million goal.
Before the vote was taken, voting members shared support of the
HIV and AIDS strategy through stories of personal experience with those
with HIV and AIDS.
The Rev. Matthew D. Bode, Southeast Michigan Synod, said that he
is heartened that the ELCA is addressing the issue of HIV and AIDS.
"It is a refreshing, amazing, powerful thing to see that this
issue is coming before the churchwide assembly," Bode said. Bode is
mission developer of of the Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church, Detroit,
who works with Wayne State University to screen people for HIV in the
community.
Bode said that the concept of the ELCA being an "HIV-positive church" is a big deal.
"It means that when we encounter others, we are affected by them, as when Jesus touched the leper," he said.
The Rev. Andrea Degroot-Nesdahl, coordinator of the Lutheran
Malaria Initiative and the ELCA HIV and AIDS strategy, said the
experience of HIV and AIDS is a global concern.
"The experience of HIV and AIDS in many of our global companion churches is so devastating," she said.
When ELCA bishops met in March, 56 were screened for HIV as a
sign of solidarity with churches of the Lutheran World Federation,
especially those in Africa. This gesture, along with the funding for
the HIV and AIDS strategy, is to bear witness to the damage the HIV and
AIDS wreaks on the leadership core of the global church,
Degroot-Nesdahl said.
"(We're) saying we know that it's a problem, and we are standing with you."
|
ELCA Assembly Urged to Continue Strong Support of Military, Veterans
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- On a hot, sunny day in Iraq the Rev. Harry W.
Griffith, an ELCA chaplain and commander in the U.S Navy Chaplain Corps
received an unusual gift: 3,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.
Wednesday he urged the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to continue
supporting the armed forces, especially the military chaplains.
Griffith said that the military receives care packages in the
hundreds, but they will always continue to need the prayers and support
of the ELCA.
He also said that support is needed not only for those stationed
in combat operations, but for veterans returning from various duties
around the world, as well as their friends and family. "Military life
affects not just the warrior, but those who are left behind," Griffith
said.
He also presented the assembly with "Care for Returning Veterans" a
DVD to help congregations assist those returning from combat.
|
|
If you are interested in keeping up with the 2009 Churchwide Assembly here are some helpful links:
|
|
|
|
