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ELCA council authorizes advisory council on theological education - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
News Releases
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
April 12, 2013
ELCA council authorizes advisory council on theological education
13-19-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Acknowledging a climate of new institutional mergers and collaborations between seminaries and universities, new technologies and degree program designs, economic challenges facing students and educational providers, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized the formation of an advisory council to address in a holistic way issues on theological education, leadership development, candidacy, call and rostered leaders.
The council’s action opens a path for renewal of the ELCA’s theological education networks, including a revitalization of work across this church in identifying and preparing women and men “to be formed as servant leaders” now and into the future.
According to the Rev. Jonathan P. Strandjord, director for seminaries at ELCA churchwide ministries, it is critical that this renewal happens in the next few years as the ELCA enters a period of a “retirement tsunami.” About “40 percent of the roster will retire in the next 10 years,” he told the council.
“Our work in identifying and preparing new rostered leaders over the next several years is crucial and will have a major impact for many to come,” said Strandjord. Another “thing that really matters, at least as much, is whether we can step up the biblical fluency of our lay leaders in these next years.”
In its action, the council authorized the Theological Education Advisory Council to:
+ gather board chairs and presidents of ELCA seminaries, ELCA colleges and universities with embedded seminaries, a synod bishop from each seminary board and others to share counsel on priorities and strategic plans, current and new collaboration initiatives and degree program design innovations, and to examine implications for ELCA leadership identification and preparation systems.
+ provide periodic progress reports from the advisory council with updates on new developments in the theological education network to the ELCA Conference of Bishops and the Church Council with a final comprehensive report and possible recommendations to the Church Council by fall 2015 for possible consideration at the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Speaking to the council about theological education in his report as ELCA presiding bishop, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson asked, “How are we preparing leaders that reflect the face of the church we are committed to become? That takes intentionality, especially when it comes to diversity.”
Hanson told the council that there are “lively conversations taking place regarding what the marks of missional leadership are and how we prepare evangelical leaders who will serve the gospel and God’s mission in a rapidly changing, increasingly connected and richly pluralistic context.”
In a separate action, the council endorsed in concept a proposed merger between California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif. There are eight ELCA seminaries and 26 ELCA colleges and universities.
The council also elected members to serve on the board of directors for The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbia, Ohio, and to the advisory council of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C., as part of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, N.C. -- these two institutions merged in 2012. With the merger, Lenoir-Rhyne established a school of theology that will include Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. The seminary retains its own name and identity while integrating with the larger university system.
In the past several years, staffs of ELCA seminaries have been working with one another and with other partners to organize their educational administrative work in ways that advance a strong, wide-reaching, sustainable theological education network that meets the leadership needs of a “church in mission.” In this work, ELCA colleges and universities have emerged as particularly important partners.
In his report to the council, Hanson said that a meeting of ELCA college and university presidents in February “led to two working groups developing proposals for strengthening how there can be greater cooperation between schools and their leaders, including the development of a statement regarding what it means to be an ELCA college or university.” Hanson said he also met with ELCA seminary presidents and other colleagues for an “open and honest conversation about the challenges each school is facing and new opportunities each is exploring,” as well as garnering feedback for a Theological Education Advisory Council.
In other business, the council:
+ requested a review and further discussion on renewing “Book of Faith” -- an initiative that encourages ELCA members, congregations and synods to become “fluent in the language of faith” and Scripture. The ELCA Congregational and Synodical Mission unit, in consultation with Augsburg Fortress Publishers, has been directed by the council to provide a report and possible recommendations to the Church Council and for presentation to the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly this summer.
+ recommended that voting members of the 2013 assembly adopt the text and implementing resolutions of the proposed social statement, “The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries.”
+ recommended that the 2013 assembly approve a 25th anniversary campaign for the ELCA as a major fundraising effort to support congregations, leadership, relief and development and global mission. To prepare for and support the campaign, the council designated $5 million from its reserve funds.
+ requested that the Office of the Presiding Bishop, in consultation with the Office of the Secretary and the Conference of Bishops, facilitate implementation of the Addressing Social Concerns Review Task Force’s recommendations to foster moral deliberation, to increase involvement in the deliberative processes of this church, and to expand the use of ELCA social teaching.
+ affirmed the work of the ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice and granted the task force’s request to extend the time for the consideration of a social statement on women and justice until the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
+ approved a revised current fund spending authorization for fiscal year 2013 of $70,731,675. The council also recommended that the 2013 assembly adopt a 2014 current income proposal and an ELCA World Hunger income proposal of $19 million for 2014.
+ endorsed the ELCA World Hunger Steering Committee proposal to revise fundraising guidelines.
+ received revisions to 2013 and 2014 synod Mission Support plans.
+ requested funding for staff to guide the ELCA in observing the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
+ affirmed in concept the draft “ELCA Philosophy of Benefits” and the proposed health care plan design options and pricing alternatives as presented to the council by Portico Benefit Services representatives. The council requested final versions for the August 2013 Church Council meeting.
+ approved and adopted amendments to the Constitution of Lutheran Medical Center and approved and adopted the amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Lutheran Medical Center -- a not-for-profit, New York-based social ministry organization of the ELCA.
The council designated New Orleans as the site of the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
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