Freed in Christ to Serve

Churchwide Assembly Blog

2011 Theme: Freed in Christ to Serve

Concentrated Discussion

Posted on August 19, 2009 by

After the plenary sessions on Tuesday morning and afternoon, many of the attendees of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly convened for smaller gatherings, hearings on key points of action subject to upcoming votes by the larger assembly.  This presented an opportunity for many ELCA members to learn and discuss more on specific issues most relevant to themselves and their particular interests.

Smaller does not necessarily indicate lesser, however.  The debate in the smaller room was no less intelligent, articulate, or intense than the discussion that had taken place on the assembly floor; splitting the discussion into smaller groups allowed for more individuals to participate in select fields of interest.

In addition to debate and offering of opinions among the assembly attendees, the hearings were an opportunity for attendees to pose questions for ELCA officers and executives responsible for drafting some of the documents and proposals under discussion by the assembly at large.

Most questions in the hearings were procedural.  The hearing on full communion with The United Methodist Church, for instance, held questions on the finer points of the proposed full-communion agreement and on the perspectives of the Methodist clergy present.  Others were more impassioned.  In the hearing on the upcoming social statement on human sexuality, for example, speakers — from theologians to pastors to lay churchgoers, both gay and straight — came forth to ask structural, ethical, and moral questions of each other.  “We are uniquely equipped as Lutherans,” said one pastor, to make a unique change in our ministry.  Others spoke concerning the issue of bound conscience, which has been often discussed on the assembly floor.

Lutherans Garner Nationwide Attention

Posted on August 18, 2009 by

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly is up and running now, and the national media have risen alongside it.  If you’ve been watching the live video stream, you’ve kept on top of the events of the assembly as they happen.  It may still interest you to note the variety of news sources that have begun to focus on the ELCA this week:

Many at the assembly have objected to the perspectives expressed by these news sources.  Twitter user @tbuegler noted (by including hashtag #CWA09):

“Victory” language not helpful. Discernment isn’t a contest

Others have expressed disappointment at the level of attention directed only at the vote on the proposed social statement on human sexuality.  For reference, in the last 24 hours, the following actions have been taken by the assembly (see the full schedule or the voting results):

  • Parliamentarian procedure presented and discussed
  • Rules of Organization and Procedure passed; 861-137
  • Report of Presiding Bishop presented
  • First Presentation of 2010-2011 Budget
  • Introduction of HIV/AIDS strategy
  • Introduction of Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality
  • Recommendation on Lutheran Malaria Initiative passed; 989-11
  • Hearings on specific events held

These hearings span a vast range of topics: Lutherans Read the Bible, Budget, Evangelizing Congregations, Lutheran Malaria Initiative, Middle East Strategy, Ministry Policies Recommendation, Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality, Full-Communion Agreement with The United Methodist Church, Board of Pensions Update, HIV and AIDS Strategy, and World Hunger Appeal/Disaster Response.

The proposed social statement and ministry recommendation are certainly important considerations, but don’t let the secular media coverage fool you: there’s so much more to this assembly than sexuality.

Opening Sermon

Posted on August 18, 2009 by

Texts for Bishop Hanson’s opening sermon: Joel 2:28–32 + Romans 8:18–27 + John 20:19–23

Grace to you and peace in the name of Jesus. Amen.

What shall be our witness this week? This is not an insignificant question.

In more than one media interview prior to the assembly, the reporter’s questions made it seem that the story of this assembly had already been written. The story is one of anxiety and dissension leading to division. But the story of this assembly has not been written. You will be one of the many witnesses who tell the story. Your witness — the story you tell — will contribute to the shaping of what others hear and believe about our life together this week.

So, then, what shall be your witness?

Will you tell how we gathered in fear behind the closed doors of the Minneapolis Convention Center, just as Jesus’ disciples gathered that first Easter evening?

Almost matter-of-factly, John describes the doors being locked “for fear of the Jews.” But wait a minute. The disciples, like Jesus, were Jews. Had it come to this for the disciples? Could it be that they were literally scared of themselves — that they feared their own shadows, the shame of their own identity, their own failure to follow Jesus to the end?

I am convinced that, as we begin this week, it is important to recognize our fears and acknowledge them honestly.

When I do not name the fears I hold — be it the anxiety that somehow it’s my sole responsibility to hold the ELCA together or that I will not give you evidence that I’ve been faithful in memorizing all 704 pages of Robert’s Rules of Order — when you and I do not name the fears we hold, then too often our fears end up holding us captive. We then become our fears, and fear — not faith — becomes our witness.

Click “Continue Reading” for the full text of Bishop Hanson’s sermon.

A Youthful Lunch

Posted on August 17, 2009 by

The Young Adult Voting Members and Young Rostered Leaders at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly began the assembly by coming together for a meal.  Ranging from newly installed youth directors to high school students, this roomful of Lutherans represents the youngest 7% of the voting members at the assembly (according to the ELCA CWA statistics)

ELCA Secretary David Swartling was on hand for the event; as the luncheon speaker, he took the opportunity to encourage and applaud the young assembly-goers for their participation in the Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA.  (According to the ELCA’s research, only about 10% of all ELCA members were under age 30 as of 2002.)

CWA Press Conference

Posted on August 17, 2009 by

ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson led a press conference this afternoon to address questions regarding the main issues under debate at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.  Several topics were raised, including

Hanson expressed his hope that the assembly would remain a “clear, non-anxious, participatory process”  as the ELCA representatives discuss and debate potentially contentious issues.  The representatives, Hanson said, “are here as representatives of the whole church,” rather than of their synods or congregations.  “Our unity is in Christ.”

This week’s upcoming votes regarding the ELCA’s statement and policies concerning sexuality have drawn much attention, both outside the church (as in this recent NPR article) and within the church.  This press conference was no exception, but Hanson sought to express that there is more to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly than the question of sexuality.  (A full list of items awaiting a vote this week can be found on the ELCA’s assembly Web site.)

Video of the press conference is available online at www.elca.org/assembly/video, and the churchwide assembly’s plenary sessions can be viewed online as they are taking place at www.elca.org/livevideo.

Welcome!

Posted on August 4, 2009 by

Welcome to the ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly 2009 blog!  In the coming days, you’ll be able to find information on all the assembly events here at blogs.elca.org/assembly.  For now, you can see all the pre-event information on the main ELCA website at elca.org/assembly.  Additionally, you can find a variety of ways to keep tabs on the events of the churchwide assembly on the ELCA’s assembly multimedia page.

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