The Work of the Churchwide Assembly
Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gathered for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Aug. 8-12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Meeting under the theme "Embody the Word," the assembly participated in plenary discussions to make decisions about the work of this church. They also spent time in worship and Bible study.
The triennial gathering — the highest legislative body of the denomination — was composed of more than 900 voting members serving on behalf of the 3.3 million members of the ELCA. The ELCA's 65 synods elected voting members to serve at churchwide assemblies.
SUMMARY BY DAY:
Living Lutheran provided a summary of each day complete with pictures. For an in depth overview, follow the link for each day.
35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELCA OBSERVED
In April 1987, the ELCA constitution was adopted in Columbus. The ELCA was formed from a merger of three Lutheran churches – the American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and the Lutheran Church in America. Watch Video >>
Newly Elected Vice President Imran Siddiqui and Synod Vice President Nancy Schanke
VICE PRESIDENT ELECTED
Imran Siddiqui of St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta, was elected to a six-year term as vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The position of vice president is the highest a layperson can hold in the ELCA. Carlos Peña most recently served as interim vice president following the death of Bill Horne last August. More about Mr. Siddiqui >>
COMMISSION FOR A RENEWED LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Assembly voted to study church structure and make recommendations to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly for amendments and changes. In summary:
The Church Council will assemble a committee, to be known as the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, which will review the ELCA constitution and propose changes.
The commission will report back to the next regularly scheduled Church Wide Assembly, which will take place in 2025.
The motion intentionally did not specify whether there should be a Reconstituting Convention, which would be a specially called Churchwide Assembly. That decision was left for the 2025 Assembly to make, based upon the recommendations.
For now, we continue to live together under the ELCA Constitution as it stands.
Bishop Patricia Davenport shares a powerful sermon at the conclusion of the Churchwide Assembly | Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 | ELCA Churchwide Assembly 2022
ADVANCE SALARY EQUITY
The Assembly called on Church Council to consider commissioning a study of pay gaps among ELCA rostered ministers and to share the findings throughout the church. The adopted memorial also encourages Portico Benefit Services and the Churchwide organization to revise bylaws and privacy policies to facilitate deeper understanding of compensation patterns among rostered ministers and calls for an update to compensation-related questions in the Rostered Minister Profile.
SEPARATION AGREEMENTS
The Assembly affirmed a churchwide organization commitment to limit the use of nondisclosure provisions and to urge other expressions and partners of the ELCA to also limit the use of nondisclosure agreements, including as a matter of course or in termination of calls of rostered ministers.
ROE V. WADE
The Assembly encouraged support and prayer for people affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, including rostered ministers and lay staff at congregations and social ministry organizations. It also called for conversation on the church’s teaching on abortion and related topics, as well as synodical reviews of the impacts that overturning Roe v. Wade and other related local rulings may have on pastoral counseling and the pastor-client relationship.
SPECIALIZED MINISTRIES AND ON LEAVE FROM CALL STATUS
The Assembly directed the Church Council to establish a process for examining policies, procedures and constitutional provisions related to specialized ministry calls and on-leave from call status, as well as protocols for removal from rosters and communication on such actions. The memorial also urges bishops and synod councils to use sparingly any action that removes a minister from the roster for nondisciplinary reasons until this review process is complete.
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION
The Assembly reaffirmed the church’s commitment to engage in creation care and to act in support of 50% reduction in 2005 U.S. levels of greenhouse gas pollution by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including having the churchwide organization meet these goals. The memorial also urges continued work with the Creation Care Network, encourages congregants and rostered ministers to witness to the climate emergency and affirms the Mission Investment Fund’s “Green Building” initiative.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY (DEIA) ELCA GOVERNANCE AUDIT
The Assembly authorized the Church Council to determine parameters, expenses and revenue sources to provide for an external audit of the “Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA” that examines diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the church’s governing documents. The memorial calls on the Church Council to report the findings of the audit and directs the legal committee to recommend changes.
During the apology to Iglesia Santa María Peregrina, Bishop Eaton offered an opportunity to write prayers on ribbons and tie them to a cross in a show of solidarity and support.
PUBLIC APOLOGY TO IGLESIA LUTERANA SANTA MARIA PEREGRINA
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton offered a public apology to Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina and a made a public commitment to be an anti-racist church on behalf of the ELCA. Watch Video >>
ASSEMBLY HONORS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
The Churchwide Assembly honored and celebrated Indigenous people through presentations and worship during the weeklong event:
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton opened the assembly with a land acknowledgment noting that the gathering is taking place on the original and ancestral homelands of the Shawnee, Miami and Kaskaskia peoples.
A resolution was passed by the Churchwide Assembly—which began at our own Synod Assembly, brought by Pastor James West—calling for ELCA ministries and partners to engage in deeper collaboration with Indigenous partners, including incorporating land acknowledgments as part of public gatherings, exploring the creation of restorative justice programs, and studying funding needs and sources for ELCA Indigenous congregations and service ministries. Read the full action >>
The American Indian and Alaska Native Lutheran Association invited assembly participants to wear red to recognize and publicize the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The assembly recognized the Rev. Marlene Whiterabbit Helgemo, who died July 22. Helgemo was the first Native American woman ordained in the Lutheran church.
The assembly heard the first in-person pronouncement of "A Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to American Indian and Alaska Native People" and received an update on the work of the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery Task Force.
The words and music for the service of Holy Communion were derived from a variety of Native American sources and designed with the help of Indigenous people who are leaders in the ELCA.
The worship offering will support the Pine Ridge Reservation initiative. ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations and ELCA World Hunger are partnering with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and local organizations to support the tribe as it addresses homelessness, housing, education, cultural preservation, livelihood opportunities, Two Spirit support and more on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Pastor Paul of Lutheran Church of the Wilderness smudges the assembly.
Many thanks to Lauren Wolcott of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod for making such a thorough summary available to us!
