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- The assembly received greetings from Agnes Abuom, moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), who talked, among other things, about the WCC’s “Thursdays in Black” campaign. Voting members then adopted a resolution related to the campaign. Credit: Janine Truppay
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- Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shared with the assembly her report, which consisted of updates and videos of ministries that relate to the five goals of Future Directions 2025. “All of these stories show what God is up to in the world and in this church,” she said. “I am grateful to be part of God’s work and am honored to be serving alongside the churchwide staff, the Conference of Bishops, the Church Council and all of you.” Credit: Janine Truppay
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- Bishop W. Darin Moore, presiding prelate of the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, greeted the assembly and shared thanks for the partnership between the AME Zion Church and ELCA: “When racial hostilities erupted, [the] ELCA has been present with us in the aftermath of the most painful moments in our country. You have marched with us, worshiped with us, protested with us, prayed with us, cried with us and resisted with us. Most importantly, however, you have been there.” Credit: Will Nunnally
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- Following a litany of confession based on the 1994 “Declaration of the ELCA to the Jewish Community,” the assembly welcomed Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and senior vice president of the union for Reform Judaism. Pesner gave thanks for the ELCA and called for continued partnership to address current societal issues: “We need you now, oh Lutheran family, more than ever. We can only overcome hate with love. We can only beat back racism with justice. And we can only do it when we come together.” Credit: Will Nunnally
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- With all of the ELCA’s ecumenical and interreligious partners represented on stage, the assembly members voted to adopt (829-23) “A Declaration of Inter-religious Commitment,” which will now stand as policy for the church’s relations. Credit: Will Nunnally
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- During her report to the assembly, Lori Fedyk, ELCA treasurer, said that more than $5.2 billion has been given in regular Sunday offerings since the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. “We are so grateful for your support,” she said. “Without you, we could not do this work.” Credit: Will Nunnally
On day four of the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, voting members and guests reconvened Aug. 8 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. The presiding bishop and treasurer of the ELCA presented their reports. The assembly received greetings from several ecumenical and interreligious guests prior to considering—and adopting—“A Declaration of Inter-religious Commitment.” Voting members also cast a second common ballot to elect churchwide boards, the ELCA Church Council and committees, and a second ballot for ELCA secretary, which narrowed down the vote to the top seven nominees.
Among other key actions, voting members adopted resolutions to condemn white supremacy and to commemorate June 17 as a day of repentance in the ELCA for the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9—the nine people who were shot and killed June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.
Voting members also approved the triennium budget for 2020-2022. This includes a current fund spending authorization of $68,378,325 for 2020, and a current fund income proposal of $68,442,034 for 2021 and $68,507,018 for 2022.
