ELCA Approves New Guidelines for Addressing Social Concerns

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Risking occasional negative fallout, Lutherans in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America continue to believe they should speak out on social issues.  At the biennial Churchwide Assembly meeting here Aug. 14-20, voting members approved a revised set of guidelines for addressing social concerns.
     The new approach, which replaces one adopted in 1989 when the ELCA was formed, focuses on four areas:

     *  developing resources for use in congregations, building awareness
        about social issues;

     * encouraging learning and moral discourse, including the
       development of appropriate study materials;

     * development and enactment of social policy; and

     * interpreting and applying social policy.

     In floor discussion prior to the vote, members raised questions about the way the ELCA does its work in the area of social concerns.  The Rev. Stephen Goodwin, Benton Ky., echoed the concerns of some church members who believe national church bodies should not take positions representing only some of its constituency.  He said, "Maybe we should focus ourselves on teaching documents instead of absolute statements."
     The Rev. John Reumann, Philadelphia, urged the church's Division for Church in Society to make every effort to consult with other denominations when developing statements on specific topics.
     Voting members had not forgotten problems in 1993 when a churchwide proposed statement concerning human sexuality was reported in the public media.  Speaking to this issue, Thomas H. Seaman, Cape Coral, Fla., asked whether Division leaders could assure the church that in the future texts of statements still in process would not be circulated publicly.
     Voting members ratified the proposal with 97 percent approving.

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html