Friday morning plenary: odds (really) and ends (finally)

[Richard Johnson]

Friday morning plenary

The assembly limped into its final plenary with the singing of "When Morning Gilds the Skies."

Bp. Hanson introduced three "new leaders": Eva Roby, President-elect of the Mission Investment Fund; Jeff Thieman, President-elect of the Board of Pensions; Linda Norman, ELCA Treasurer-elect.

Final credentials report: 1,023 present. He also gave all the demographic statistics, which you probably don't care about. But roughly 38% of clergy are women, and slightly over half of laity are women. Total percentage under 30 is 12.7% (highest percentage of youth/young adults in history of ELCA).

Rich White, new president of Lutheran Men in Mission, brought greetings.

R&C brought a proposal to do some rewording of the action on the ELCA Malaria Initiative. This appears to be simply an editorial correction. Amendment adopted.

A motion to ask synods to hold Lenten prayer vigils in 2012 was referred to the Office of the Presiding Bishop.

A motion regarding immigration was presented:
Resolved, that the 2011 CWA declare its support of and encouragement for all efforts to prevent the enactment of punitive and unjust federal and state laws that target immigrants . . .that all congregations and institutions. . . are called to welcome and serve persons regardless of their documented status . . . and called upon to deepen their understanding of the current issues . . . and all members . . . be encouraged to protest laws and proposed laws that ignore the Bible's witness to care for the stranger . . . Church Council be asked to consider designation of one day each year for 'Stand for Welcome Sunday' . . . etc etc.

R&C recommends approval, seeing it as consistent with 2009 social policy resolution "Toward Compassionate, Just, and Wise Immigration Reform." There was brief speaking, all in favor, and the resolution was adopted. 882-40

A motion was submitted asking ELCA to seek dialogue with NALC. Substitute from R&C worded: "Resolved, that the ELCA through the Office of the Presiding Bishop's Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations invite dialogue with the NALC and strive for a mutual relationship, where possible, for both the ELCA and the NALC." The original proposer moved that the word "and" (before "strive") be replaced with "to" (which was his original wording); when asked why, he said "Because it's grammatically correct." The assembly agreed, and approved the change. The motion to invite dialogue with NALC was approved 841-74.

A motion relative to suicide prevention was presented. The maker wanted "synods report to the 2013 CWA actions taken by them and/or their congregations to implement the Message on Suicide Prevention." R&C instead moved to "call upon all expressions of this church, as appropriate, to seek ways to deal with this issue consistent with the message on suicide prevention." Motion approved 901-21.

A motion was made that would call on congregations to set aside in 2012 the equivalent of one week's offerings for mission and ministry outside the congregation (based on the fact that there are 53 Sundays in 2012). R&C moved referral to Mission Advancement unit, and "shared, along with other stewardship strategies, across this church as appropriate." Motion carried.

Now a motion on to "urge the President and Congress to recognize and address the unintended consequences of US ethanol policy on world hunger." R&C moved to refer to Congregational and Synodical Mission unit and the Office of the Presiding Bishop. The maker of the motion (Lowell Klessig) opposed referral so that the assembly could talk about the issue, which seems to be concern about the high price of corn and shrinking supplies because of growing use of ethanol. There was brief debate by people making utterly contradictory claims about the relative merits of ethanol. Motion to refer was carried, 860-73.

A motion reiterating the ELCA's commitment to youth-led faith formation and leadership development. The president of Lutheran Youth Organization pointed out that R&C's language eliminates reference to an "organization based at the churchwide expression," and he moved as a substitute the original language which did make such a reference. There was no clear rationale from R&C for this change. There were several speakers, mostly youth and bishops. The motion to substitute was approved, 766-166. After more speeches by youth, bishops, and bishop-wannabes, the motion as amended was approved, 909-30.

A very controversial resolution asking the assembly to give thanks to God for the witness and service of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. There was no discussion prior to its approval 883-17.

A more substantial resolution proposed a constitutional amendment which would have synods "transmit to the treasurer of the ELCA a portion of that mission support as determined by the Church Council based upon the number of confirmed members of this synod and adjusted for the median family income in the territory of this synod . . ."  R&C recommends referral to Mission Advancement Movement. Motion to refer adopted, 635-251. I doubt many members quite got what this was about.

A lengthy presentation was made on the World Hunger program.

A memorial regarding support for campus ministry was taken up next. There was an amendment offered from the floor. Part of the amendment had budgetary implications, and was disallowed because it had not met deadline requirements. The rest of it called for liaison from campus ministry to the Conference of Bishops, and some other stuff that didn't get on the screen long enough to copy. Motion to amend approved. After way too much debate, mostly insisting on the importance of campus ministry, the amended motion was approved, 796-93.

The final memorial seems to be asking that the 60% "clergy" at assemblies etc. but widened to include all rostered persons—in other words, lumping lay rostered persons in with ordained rostered persons for "categorization" purposes. R&C recommended this be declined.  Motion from R&C adopted, 676-196.

That completes memorials, and now I think all that is left is recognition of outgoing Church Council members and the resolutions of appreciation, for which I don't really think I need to stay. So I'm off to the airport. I'll leave any last minute breaking news to Charles. Watch for the wrap-up report in the October Forum Letter.

[Charles_Austin]

Esteemed Moderator Richard has left after dutifully blogging all the business sessions. There is to be no more business. The Assembly is thanking the key people and there will be final words from Presiding Bishop Hanson.
Additional reports on the business and the actions are available on the ELCA's Assembly blog. Good, brief reports on how votes went on many matters.
Full reports and resolutions and other documentary stuff is on the ELCA's assembly website.

PResiding Bishop Hanson is now telling the assembly "I have never been more grateful for the ELCA than I am now."
"We share a common conviction of being justified by grace."
"We are church whose unity is in JEsus who gathers us around word and water, bread and wine."
"We know who we are. We are a church called to discern together what the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means for the world. We have struggled with that at the intersection of faith and life."
"We believe that God calls each of us by name. I cannot tell you what a powerful witness that we have the opportunity to give."
"When in this culture too many are drawing lines in the sand that exclude, we say 'not in this church. you are welcome here.'"
The Presiding Bishop asked voting members to use the voting machines to answer the question. "Are we as a church ready to be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit"
The options:
1. Ready? (about 100+ I missed the number)
2. Still waiting? 26
3. We're already moving, catch up church! 614

The Bishop received another standing ovation.
Then followed a video on Pittsburgh, the site of the 2013 Assembly.

This humble correspondent, must now sign off and get to his work.

[Michael Slusser]

In this latest report, I was impressed with the judicious modifications made by "R&C" to a whole series of resolutions. The one exception was corrected by the assembled delegates. The R&C resolutions were generally in the direction of depoliticization and/or finding language that did the job without getting people's backs up, it seems to me.

Peace,
Michael

[peter_speckhard]

I think Rich White is such an un-PC name it is actually kitschy. Those who voted for him should call themselves "Rich White Folks."

[Norsk]

So there were 17 people opposed to the witness and service of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg?

[Erma S. Wolf]

  Probably didn't know who he was.   

[Brian Stoffregen]

  Probably didn't know who he was.   

Or think that resolutions like that are meaningless.

[Norsk]

That strikes me as most likely.

[revklak]

Resolved, that the  . . Church Council be asked to consider designation of one day each year for 'Stand for Welcome Sunday' . . . etc etc.

I can't wait to tell my congregation "Welcome Lutheran Church," a congregation of the NALC, that after all of last year's bitterness and wrangling, the ELCA is willing to show their love for us on  a yearly basis....  awwww shucks. 

[LutherMan]

This was the most boring ELCA CWA ever.
I miss sex...

[Erma S. Wolf]

This was the most boring ELCA CWA ever.

Thank God.

[Charles_Austin]

Well, if you think the church is only about sex, you wouldn't be turned on by the last week in Orlando. But if you think the church is about outreach, fellowship, prayer, Bible study and worship, engagement in issues such as the moral implications of genetic research, finding the best way to be the people of God in a changing world, listening to those called and elected to guide us and looking to the future, you might have enjoyed being here.
I shared mealtime conversations with people, both pastors and laypeople, from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Iowa, Florida, California, Illinois and Nebraska and maybe a few other places. What a joy to hear them talk about the life in their churches!
I heard leaders of Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and Lutheran Disaster Service tell how we are able to serve around the world.
I heard a Muslim leader praise us for our commitment to peace and peace-making dialogue in troubled times and places, and I heard some of our ecumenical partners tell how we share the proclamation of the Gospel with them.
I met people - some of whom I have known for 20 or 30 years - who have given their lives to building a Lutheran church that tries to be the best of "Lutheran" that it can be; and I met some very young people excited about taking that into the future.
Boring? Well, some parliamentary debate makes me feel like I want to tell certain people to sit down and shut up; but overall this is my church at work - not the work "out there" in the world - but the work necessary to put us "out there" in the world with the love of Christ. 

[Bergs]

Friday morning plenary

A motion regarding immigration was presented:
Resolved, that the 2011 CWA declare its support of and encouragement for all efforts to prevent the enactment of punitive and unjust federal and state laws that target immigrants . . .that all congregations and institutions. . . are called to welcome and serve persons regardless of their documented status . . . and called upon to deepen their understanding of the current issues . . . and all members . . . be encouraged to protest laws and proposed laws that ignore the Bible's witness to care for the stranger . . . Church Council be asked to consider designation of one day each year for 'Stand for Welcome Sunday' . . . etc etc.

R&C recommends approval, seeing it as consistent with 2009 social policy resolution "Toward Compassionate, Just, and Wise Immigration Reform." There was brief speaking, all in favor, and the resolution was adopted. 882-40

Now a motion on to "urge the President and Congress to recognize and address the unintended consequences of US ethanol policy on world hunger." R&C moved to refer to Congregational and Synodical Mission unit and the Office of the Presiding Bishop. The maker of the motion (Lowell Klessig) opposed referral so that the assembly could talk about the issue, which seems to be concern about the high price of corn and shrinking supplies because of growing use of ethanol. There was brief debate by people making utterly contradictory claims about the relative merits of ethanol. Motion to refer was carried, 860-73.

A more substantial resolution proposed a constitutional amendment which would have synods "transmit to the treasurer of the ELCA a portion of that mission support as determined by the Church Council based upon the number of confirmed members of this synod and adjusted for the median family income in the territory of this synod . . ."  R&C recommends referral to Mission Advancement Movement. Motion to refer adopted, 635-251. I doubt many members quite got what this was about.

First of all, thank you Rev. Johnson (and Rev. Austin) for your reports and blogging.  Truly you have given us a gift of your reporting skills and insights.  We are blessed to have the information presented to us in this manner.

There are a couple of things in the resolutions above that I think will cause the ELCA to become more of a liberal political organization.

First, is it really a good idea to "be encouraged to protest laws and proposed laws that ignore the Bible's witness to care for the stranger?"   This will provide nice cover to those who oppose laws such as those Arizona tried to pass.  I know of many current ELCA members who were very supportive of those type of laws.   Maybe it will come to nothing.  But I personally know many ELCA members who may be surprised by how this resolution gets implemented.

Second, I will personally enjoy tweaking close relatives with the ethanol resolution.  They are highly invested in ethanol subsidies and industry and loyal ELCA members.  As Father Slusser pointed out, they are well written to sound innocuous.  Implementation may look radically different. 

Finally as Rev. Johnson points out I don't think many people understand the constitutional amendment that was referred to the Mission Advancement Movement.  This is Lutheran income redistribution.   The geniuses on Higgins Road are carefully looking at membership in their regions and the median family income.   More will be expected from those rich regions. 

Brian J. Bergs
Minneapolis, MN

[Charles_Austin]

Brian Bergs writes:
The geniuses on Higgins Road are carefully looking at membership in their regions and the median family income.   More will be expected from those rich regions. 

I muse:
The "geniuses" on Higgins Road are reading the Bible.
"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded"
St. Luke 12:48

[Bergs]

Brian Bergs writes:
The geniuses on Higgins Road are carefully looking at membership in their regions and the median family income.   More will be expected from those rich regions. 

I muse:
The "geniuses" on Higgins Road are reading the Bible.
"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded"
St. Luke 12:48

First, God is that judge to determine whom much is given.  It is God that demands it and his people who respond thankfully with their gifts.  The ELCA is now looking into basically a form of taxation based on median income and membership.
Second, What is the much that is given?  If people are more talented (educated) than other places but do not use their talents well causing less income, what will be demanded from them?  Why not sit back and let those rich buggers pay while we write protest hymns?
Third, is median income the best guide?  How do assets come into play?  Do ELCA members reflect the local trend, are they as wealthy or earning as much.

Yes, the geniuses on Higgins Road will have to wrestle with this partisan issue.   

Brian J. Bergs
Minneapolis, MN