2022 Churchwide Assembly – Columbus, OH – August 8-12, 2022

The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the church, 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. The 2022 Churchwide Assembly will be held August 8-12, 2022 in Columbus, OH.

More information will be available on the ELCA website: https://www.elca.org/churchwideassembly

2019 Churchwide Assembly – Milwaukee, WI – August 5-10, 2019

The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the church, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. This year, the 2019 Churchwide Assembly took place at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from August 5-10, 2019.

Over the course of the assembly, voting members:

  • Heard reports and review the work of churchwide officers, leaders and units;
  • Received and considered proposals from synod assemblies;
  • Elected officers, board members and other leaders as specified by the constitution or bylaws;
  • Established ELCA churchwide policy;
  • Worshipped together; 
  • Adopted a budget; and
  • Conducted other business related to the ELCA churchwide organization.

We invite you to review the information that was discussed during Churchwide Assembly:

Topics Covered Included:

  • Overview of the 2019 Churchwide Assembly Schedule
  • Review of the Guidebook App
  • Review of the Ecclesiastical Ballot Process for Election of the Presiding Bishop and Secretary
  • Nominations Committee, Bios, and how to prepare for General Elections
  • Memorials Committee and how to review their recommendations
  • Overview of the ELCA Social Statement Process and what to expect as we are asked to approve a new Social Statement on “Faith, Sexism, and Justice:  A Call to Action”
  • Review the Proposal to Archive older ELCA Social Policy Resolutions
  • Overview of ELCA Future Directions 2025 along with the ELCA Churchwide Organization Operational Plan
  • Overview of “A Declaration of Inter-Religious Commitment:  A Policy Statement of the ELCA” (proposed)
  • Rationale for Amendments to Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA Constitution – including the proposal to change to Ordination as the entrance rite for Ministers of Word and Service (Deacons) and transitioning their representation from “Lay” to “Rostered” in formal meetings