Churchwide Assembly

Duties of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly:

• Review the work of the churchwide officers, and for this purpose require and receive reports from them and act on business proposed by them.
• Review the work of the churchwide units, and for this purpose require and receive reports from them and act on business proposed by them.
• Receive and consider proposals from synod assemblies.
• Establish churchwide policy.
• Adopt a budget for the churchwide organization.
• Elect officers, board members, and other persons as provided in the constitution or bylaws.
• Establish churchwide units to carry out the functions of the churchwide organization.
• Have the sole authority to amend the constitution and bylaws.
• Fulfill other functions as required in the constitution and bylaws.
• Conduct such other business as necessary to further the purposes and functions of the churchwide organization.

2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly

The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be held July 28–Aug. 2, 2025, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz.

The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. When the ELCA Churchwide Assembly convenes, its voting members meet with confidence in God’s grace around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on their work on behalf of the entire church. Over the course of the assembly, voting members:

• Hear reports and review the work of churchwide officers, leaders and units.
• Receive and consider proposals from synod assemblies.
• Elect officers, board members and other leaders as specified by the constitution or bylaws.
• Establish ELCA churchwide policy.
• Worship together.
• Adopt a budget.
• Conduct other business related to the ELCA churchwide organization.

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