ELCA Conference of Bishops Analyzes Churchgoing Trends in Planning for Future

CHICAGO — The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met Sept. 24-28 at the Lutheran Center in Chicago. The conference, an advisory body of the ELCA, comprises 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary.

In her report to the conference, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton described the work of the churchwide organization framed by God's Love Made Real. Eaton emphasized the vision guiding this work — a world experiencing the difference God's grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation — and its two distinct strategies, the church that is and the church that is becoming.

"Some people might think that the wave of the future is no more buildings, no more congregations, but I don't think that's true," said Eaton. "We're going to work with our congregations, but at the same time — and we found this out during COVID — there are some people who will not set foot in one of our buildings or anything that is recognizable as church. Those people need to hear the liberating good news of the gospel."

Eaton asked the assembled bishops, "How can we here at the churchwide expression walk alongside you as people start to realize that they are never out of God's sight and that God is at work with them, through them and in them?"

To learn more about this work, the conference heard from the Vision team, led by the Rev. Louise Johnson, executive for Vision, and the Rev. Ernie Hinojosa, associate executive for Vision. Eaton established the team in 2024, and its work is guided by the ELCA's vision statement. In conversation with the conference, Johnson and Hinojosa shared ideas for the church to work together to help more people learn about Jesus' love.

In key business, the conference issued a statement stressing the need to speak the truth and refusing "to accept the ongoing normalization of lies and deceit.

"We, the members of the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, speak with one voice to condemn the hateful, deceptive, violent speech that has too readily found a place in our national discourse," the statement reads. "We recommit ourselves to speaking the truth and pointing to the one who is truth."

In other business, the conference:

• Adopted the recommendations of its Roster Committee on granting ministers' specific requests for (1) extensions of leave, (2) nonstipendiary calls, (3) exceptions to the bylaw that requires an initial three years of congregational service for ministers of Word and Sacrament and (4) extensions of on-leave-from-call status for ministers of Word and Service.
• Participated in a hearing of the draft social statement Civic Life and Faith led by the Rev. Dr. Roger Willer, director for Theological Ethics. Feedback received from the conference and from hearings across the church this year are considered by the task force to revise and finalize a proposed social statement. The ELCA Church Council will vote at its Spring meeting on whether to send that version to the 2025 CWA for consideration.
  
• Received an update from Dr. Ryan Cumming, program director for theological ethics, community engagement and education, on the task force now reconsidering the social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.
• Received a presentation from ELCA Research and Evaluation about a survey on pastoral leadership that will help this church anticipate its need for such leadership in congregations over the next five years.
• Received an overview of recommendations from the candidacy leadership development working group, presented by the Rev. Susan Candea, bishop of the ELCA Central States Synod, and the Rev. Christopher DeForest, bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod. Established during the conference's spring 2022 meeting, the working group was charged with providing a refreshed candidacy process and candidacy manual by summer 2025.
• Heard a presentation on ELCA election engagement to help equip members, worshiping communities and networks for civic engagement throughout the 2024 election season.
• Received an update from the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC), led by commission co-chairs the Rev. Carla Christopher and Leon Schwartz. The commission was established as called for in the memorial "Restructure the Governance of the ELCA," adopted by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly.
• Discussed education on gender, racial and physical boundaries, led by the boundaries training working group. Boundaries education encompasses basic boundaries, gender justice and racial justice, with special emphasis on rooting both content and pedagogy in the Lutheran theological tradition and ELCA social teaching.
• Received greetings from members of the Malagasy Lutheran Church.
• Expressed gratitude and bid farewell to Barb Keller, who is retiring from her position as director for the prevention of misconduct. Keller has served in this position since 2006.
• Received reports from the ELCA secretary, treasurer and vice president, and updates from the conference's various committees.

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