ELCA To Study the Bible

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 7, 2007

ELCA Assembly Affirms 'Book of Faith' Bible-Study Initiative
07-CWA-010-JI


CHICAGO (ELCA) - The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) today adopted "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible," a sweeping five-year initiative to boost study of the Bible throughout the 4.8-million member church body.

That initiative grew out of a 2005 proposal made by the ELCA North Carolina Synod to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA Vocation and Education staff developed the recommendation for action here.

The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,071 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"

The recommendation, consisting of nine points, was approved Aug. 7. It stressed the importance of Scripture for believers "throughout the ages" (one of those points), and thanked the North Carolina Synod for proposing the initiative. It was adopted by a vote of 1,000 to 19.

The companion recommendation - expanded from eight to nine points after lengthy discussion - gives specific suggestions for ways to "invite and encourage all members, expressions, institutions, and partners of this church to commit themselves regularly and increasingly to hearing, reading, studying, sharing, and being formed by God's Word," the proposal said. It calls for use of existing resources and developing new material for use in studying the Bible.

Three other amendments to that second recommendation ultimately were defeated. The final vote to adopt was 956 to 93.

As the initiative came to the assembly floor, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said it "invites this whole church to become fluent in the first language of faith - the language of Scripture; and to be renewed for lives of witness and service as the Holy Spirit engages us."

The Rev. Stanley N. Olson, executive director of the Vocation and Education unit, said that "Book of Faith" is "designed to remind us of the power of God's Word. Join the conversation that God initiates," Olson urged.

Olson introduced Dr. Diane Jacobson, a professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and newly named director of the "Book of Faith" initiative. Jacobson will devote half of her time to the initiative.

Jacobson told the assembly, "The vision of the … initiative is this: that the whole church become more fluent in the first language of faith - the language of Scripture - in order that we may live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, and empowered by the Word. … The fulfillment of this vision depends on all of us."

At a news conference after both recommendations were approved, Olson likened the "Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible" proposal to the Lutheran Reformation - "not a rehash of various Bible-study programs the church has used over the years, but a "renewal growing out of the Word."

Olson said that like the Reformation, the initiative will be "foundational," and directed to all ages and all aspects of Christian life.

Jacobson said that a main point of the initiative is to "study Scripture as the primary source about itself," with "more people reading the Bible more often, at all levels of this church."

Beth A. Lewis, president and CEO of Augsburg Fortress, the ELCA publishing ministry, told those at the news conference that Augsburg "has some resources in the works" that can be used in the "Book of Faith" initiatives, with "many more planned," for both print and electronic media.

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GJ - Stan Olson and I were in the same Greek exegesis classes at Yale. His wife became a pastor. Strangely, he also served as a pastor in New Ulm, People's Republic of Minnesota. Coming from the ALC side of the merger, Stan officially welcomed joint communion services with the Reformed, which was David Preus' (ALC cousin of Robert Preus) passion and goal.

Missouri and WELS should feel calmer about all their joint work and joint meetings with ELCA, because ELCA is going to study the Bible.

Besides, they all attend the same seminary. Not Luther in the Twin Cities - Fuller in Pasadena.