Bound for New Orleans 2016 Churchwide Assembly to elect a vice president and more
By Nathan Gafjen
A
s the summer wraps up and the youngsters prepare to head off to school, 980 voting members will be
departing for New Orleans Aug. 8-13 for the 2016 Churchwide Assembly to vote for a new vice president of the ELCA.
Hosted by the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast
Synod, the assembly theme is “Freed & Renewed in Christ.” At this assembly, the ELCA will observe the 500th anniversary of the Reformation through the Grace Gathering, a special event for non-voting members Aug. 10-13. Participants can experience an assembly and reflect on how the Reformation can continue to guide Lutherans today. They will worship, pray and take part in Bible studies based on the Reformation anniversary in 2017. Plenaries, worship and workshops will take place
at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. During the week, assembly voting members will:
• Elect an ELCA vice president. Carlos Peña, elected in 2003, is stepping down after two terms (see page 26). The vice president is elected to a six-year term and serves as the chair of the Church Council.
• Consider the Word and Service Task Force’s recommendation that the three rosters of church lay leaders be unified into a single body and that its members be known as deacons. If voting members approve the recommendation, the change will be effective Jan. 1, 2017.
• Consider the “Declaration on the Way,” a document that draws on 50 years of Lutheran- Catholic dialogue in preparation for the Reformation anniversary. The declaration includes 32 “Statements of Agreement” where Catholics and Lutherans already have said there are not church-dividing differences between them.
• Vote on the recommendation for the ELCA’s strategy to “Accompany Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities” (AMMPARO). The strategy is
meant to help bring people together in new ways on each step of their journey. It will involve companion churches and organizations in the countries of origin and in transit, as well as ELCA synods, congregations, social ministry organizations, agencies, institutions and other ecumenical partners in the U.S. On Tuesday evening, voting members and other
participants can hear more about action items before the assembly and other issues, such as the social statement on women and justice, which will be considered by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. During this hearing participants can learn about the social message on gender-based violence. Another hearing will provide an update on the implementation of the Theological Education Advisory Council’s recommendations, which were approved by the Church Council in April 2015. New Orleans will provide a launching point for
experiential learning, engagement and reflection through “God’s Grace in Action,” an afternoon event to inspire participants to action in their own communities. Tracks include: Music, Justice and Peace; Promoting Peace; From the Doctrine of Discovery to #BlackLivesMatter; Human Trafficking; Resurrection; Care for Creation; Children of Go; Education; New Orleans Cuisine; Access to Housing; and Food Security. For more information, visit
elca.org/ ChurchwideAssembly.
Gafjen is an intern with ELCA Strategic Communications. A graduate of Valparaiso (Ind.) University, he will pursue a master’s degree online at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., this fall.
RELIGIOUS NEWS & SOCIAL ISSUES •
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