Churchwide Assembly Blog

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

• the proposed strategy toward HIV/AIDS,
• the proposal of the ELCA entering into full communion with the The United Methodist Church, and
• the upcoming vote on the ELCA’s proposed social statement on human sexuality and the recommendation on ministry policies

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.

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