On August 5th, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), began its 15th triennial churchwide assembly in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This gathering met under the theme “We Are Church” to worship, vote on matters of governance and policy, and be church together for the sake of the world. A number of actions were taken by the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly during their meetings August 5th-9th:
- Received the results of the Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA.” This $198 million campaign was approved by the 2013 Churchwide Assembly. At the Campaign’s conclusion on June 30 of this year nearly $250 million has been raised through gifts, pledges, and planned giving.
- Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton was re-elected on the first ballot with over 81 percent of the vote on Tuesday, August 6th. She was first elected by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2013 and will be serving her second six-year term.
- Adopted the social statement “Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Lutheran Call to Action” and it’s implementing resolutions. This statement began through the work of a task force in 2012.
- Approved a resolution declaring the ELCA is a “sanctuary church body,” encouraging participation in the ELCA AMMPARO initiative for migrant children, discernment of care for our immigrant neighbors in our context, and the promise of forthcoming resources for this work.
- Approved support for the World Council of Church’s Thursdays in Black, awareness movement for a world without rape and violence.
- Approved the recommendations from a strategic task force which has been studying how to work toward authentic diversity in our church.
- Approved memorials: affirming but not “endorsing” the Poor People’s Campaign, care for immigrants and refugees, and other statements.
- Approved an ELCA constitutional change that Deacons (rostered ministers of word and service) be ordained rather than consecrated.
- Approved “A Declaration of Inter-religious Commitment,” which renews and stands alongside the 1991 statement, “ A Declaration of Ecumenical Commitment: A policy statement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
- Presented a Declaration to People of African Descent to representatives of the African Descent Lutheran Association. The declaration is an expression of confession of this church’s bondage to the sins of slavery, racism, discrimination, white supremacy and quietism. “This apology is a recommitment to the process of right and equitable relations within this church, and the flourishing of Christ’s church universal,” Bishop Eaton said after the declaration was read.
- Received and approved the proposal for the triennium budget.
- Elected Deacon Sue Rothmeyer as secretary of the ELCA. This position acts as an executive administrator and leader on all constitutional matters and interpretation.
- Voted to commemorate June 17 as a day of repentance and remembrance in the ELCA for the deaths of the Emanuel 9, the nine people who were killed June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
- Adopted a resolution condemning white supremacy.
- Celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the ordination of women, this celebration is the beginning of a year-long commemoration of 50 years of women serving at ministers of Word and Sacrament.
- Celebrated the 40th anniversary since the first ordination of a woman of color in the ELCA.
- Celebrated 10 years of acceptance of LGBTIA+ persons on the ELCA roster.
Learn more about the assembly, see recorded videos and get resources on the assembly webpage.
