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The ELCA Church Council met electronically on April 16. The council, which serves as the ELCA’s board of directors, took action on a variety of matters.
In his report to the council, Yehiel Curry, presiding bishop of the ELCA, spoke about his focus for his first three years in office. He emphasized that among the three churchwide priorities, the third priority—”A connected church and sustainable church: Raising the bar together”—will guide the work of the church through the 2028 Churchwide Assembly.
Curry highlighted the in-person return to office for all churchwide organization staff who live within 50 miles of the Lutheran Center in Chicago, saying he believed the return to office will help advance the vision of a more connected church.
He also noted that the ELCA Vision team, now referred to as the ELCA Exploration team, will be working alongside the ELCA Research and Evaluation and Innovation teams on its current grant to strengthen alignment for a unified approach to future-focused work.
In key action, the council:
- Elected Rachel Wind as the churchwide organization’s executive for administration for a term that coincides with that of the presiding bishop.
- Affirmed a new Asian and Pacific Islander Ministry Strategy of the ELCA.
- Affirmed the ELCA’s commitment to support the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025-34), urging this church to seek out ways to engage in systemic transformation, including consideration of the WCC’s “pathways to climate justice.”
- Elected two people to fill council vacancies: Jeffrey Akerson, Bellevue, Neb., for a term ending Aug. 2031, and Denise Beumer, Maitland, Fla., for a term ending Aug. 2028.
- Approved modifications to the church’s investment policies, based on an asset allocation study.
- Ratified amendments to a consultation process for Rule D2 of “Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings Against Rostered Ministers and Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
- Affirmed the use of resources to help synods identify candidates to serve on consultation committees.
- Approved amendment of churchwide organization personnel policies.
- Deferred consideration of the development of a social message on rural, remote communities and sovereign tribal nations until the November 2026 council meeting.
- Asked the Theological Discernment unit in the Office of the Presiding Bishop to develop a social policy resolution on the issue of abortion and to provide a recommendation to the November 2026 council meeting concerning additional resources related to the 1991 social statement Abortion.
- Approved updates to the policy “Terms and Conditions of Support for Long-term Global Personnel.”
- Appointed or elected people to fill open positions in the following bodies: the board of trustees for Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, the advisory council for Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University, the board of trustees for Luther Seminary, the board of trustees of the Mission Investment Fund and the board of directors for Mosaic Inc.
- Approved amendments to continuing resolutions, related to the audit committee, in “Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA.”
- Received reports and approved actions related to the following 2025 Churchwide Assembly actions: “Confession of Faith in Our Time”; “A.I. in the Church”; “Immigration Detention”; “Review of ELCA Investments and Procurement”; “Stand for Palestinian Rights and End to Occupation of Palestine”; “Justice for Palestinians and Israelis”; and “Equity and Clarity in the Mission Development Process.”
