WHEREAS, some candidates for ministry enrolled in our Lutheran Seminaries before the Called to Common Mission (CCM) document was approved and;

WHEREAS, some candidates for ministry and ordained ministers are opposed to ordination or installation under the CCM rubric on the grounds that their faithful understanding of adherence to Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions are compromised thereby and their approval for entrance to seminary, ordination and call to ministry were not conditioned upon the acceptance of the Historic Episcopate as defined in the Called to Common Mission document approved by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly and;

WHEREAS, the ELCA Conference of Bishops in their meetings of March, 2001, affirmed a policy of working toward the freedom of conscience for clergy candidates affected in this manner, in the best of our Lutheran tradition of theological freedom under Faith alone, Grace alone, Word alone, and obedience to our Lord and Savior and;

WHEREAS, the ELCA Conference of Bishops, in a recent pastoral letter, expressed their desire that implementation of ‘Called to Common Mission’ enable full participation in the ELCA of all members and invited the exploration of possible ways to allow synodical bishops...to authorize another ELCA pastor to preside at an ordination" and asked the ELCA Church Council "to pursue this exploration";

WHEREAS, the ELCA Church Council in its meeting April 6-7, 2001, voted to transmit for adoption Bylaws Section 7.31.17 allowing for such ordinations in unusual circumstances; therefore be it

RESOLVED, for the 2001 Assembly of the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod to memorialize the ELCA Churchwide Assembly and leadership to honor and celebrate the proper and God-pleasing work of the ELCA Conference of Bishops in moving toward peace by actively, and in good faith, exploring changes in the ELCA governing documents that were previously amended by the CCM process; said changes would allow ordinations and installations of otherwise approved candidates to occur outside the Historic Episcopate, when individual Lutheran conscience in this matter cannot be accommodated by other means. And be it further

RESOLVED, that this assembly prayerfully and in earnest hope of inclusiveness, add its voice to the full support of our Conference of Bishops in this matter of faith, practice and ministry, so that we all might be one in the freedom of a Christian.

Synod Reference and Counsel Committee: Forwards a Substitute Resolution 
Passed by synod assembly vote, approximately 2/3 majority.