A change of pace: Resolutions, worship and volunteering

Lutheran, The, Aug 2001 by Solomonson, Sonia C

Voting members face questions on CCM, homosexuality, evangelism and more

What are your vacation plans this year? A cruise? Sightseeing?

The beach or a woodsy cabin?

Rather than tossing beach balls, some of your ELCA sisters and brothers will be balancing notebooks and papers, debating resolutions, worshiping and volunteering to landscape, paint or clean for a service project. Several of the 1,040 voting members at the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will use vacation days when they gather in Indianapolis Aug. 8-14 to make decisions on your behalf.

One of their big decisions is who will be the presiding bishop for the next six years. Another is electing an ELCA secretary for a six-year term.

The assembly also will consider a controversial proposal to allow a synod bishop, under "unusual circumstances," to delegate to another pastor the authority to preside at an ordination. The proposed constitutional bylaw, transmitted by the ELCA Church Council, attempts to answer the concerns of those opposed to Called to Common Mission, the full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church.

Voting members will act on a social policy on school vouchers that will guide the ELCA's public policy advocacy ministry.

Memorials and resolutions will address issues of gay ordination and blessings for committed relationships of gay and lesbian people, as well as a multitude of other topics.

Stand With Africa

Assembly participants will hear about a three-year campaign, "Stand With Africa," which focuses on HIV/AIDS, food security, and peace and reconciliation in Africa. It's coordinated by the ELCA World Hunger Program, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Lutheran World Relief. A campaign proposal calls for a strong partnership of ELCA congregations.

Voting members will consider an evangelism strategy for the decade, as well as Asian and Latino ministry strategies. They will vote on the 2001-02 fiscal year budget proposal of $103.1 million, which includes $16.5 million for the hunger program. The 2002-03 proposed budget is $105.3 million, with $17 million for hunger. In addition, voting members will hear reports on:

* The ELCA "Initiatives for the New Century."

* The ELCA Ministry Among Persons in Poverty program.

* The World Hunger Appeal.

* Other concerns and programs.

Daily worship and Bible study opportunities abound, and hearings will be held on such issues as school choice, evangelism, rural ministry and homosexuality.

But the assembly isn't all work and no play. Participants can attend a dinner at the zoo to celebrate Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson's leadership. They can choose a Sunday activity: visiting historic and new downtown Indianapolis sites, an open-air living history museum or a museum that showcases local African American history. Those who don't take the Sunday afternoon tour or stay in their rooms studying resolutions can volunteer for Lutheran Child and Family Services of Indiana/Kentucky Inc. to trim bushes, landscape, paint or clean.

Sports fans have the option of seeing a Sunday night Indianapolis Indians baseball game.

The ELCA Board of Pensions makes an appearance at each assembly, offering participants the chance to start their day off right with Run, Walk 'n' Roll-an early morning outdoor running, walking and rolling event. Or they can join the board's staff at an exhibit booth and have their photos taken with a life-size cutout of the presiding bishop.

Assembly-goers can step back in time with a visit to the County Fair, a series of interactive displays that highlight the ELCA's work through activities, games, contests, music and photo opportunities.

Prior to the assembly, an Aug. 6-8 Women's Leadership Roundtable will gather daughters, mothers, grandmothers, students, pastors, female bishops and others for worship, Bible study and sessions on the development and mentoring of leaders.

Lutheran Men in Mission will hold a half-day gathering. The group will meet Aug 12 during a break in assembly business sessions.

Those of you not taking vacation to attend the assembly can check daily at www.thelutheran.org and at www.elca.org/assembly/01/ to follow the decisions and events.

Solomonson is managing editor of The Lutheran.