ELCA Churchwide Assembly to Consider 125 Memorials from Synods

 
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 1,071 voting members of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly meeting here at Navy Pier next month will be asked to respond to 125 memorials summarized in a 74-page assembly report.  Memorials are requests from the church's 65 synods asking for action by the assembly on specific topics. The churchwide assembly, which meets every two years, is the ELCA's chief legislative authority.  Voting members, staff, visitors and media will meet Aug. 6-11 in Chicago, where the ELCA churchwide organization is based.
 
Seven categories of memorials recommended for assembly discussion
 
The committee categorized all of the memorials and recommended seven specific categories for discussion by Churchwide Assembly voting members: support for congregations assisting returning military veterans; criminal justice; Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Iraq war; blessing of same-sex relationships; standards for professional leaders; and referrals to the task force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality (about half of the 125 memorials addressed topics and issues related to homosexuality, standards for sexual conduct of ordained ministers, same-sex relationship blessings and discipline):
 
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