WHEREAS, Called to Common Mission (CCM) as adopted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Episcopal Church mandates that all ELCA bishops be installed/ordained into the historic episcopate; and

WHEREAS, numerous constituencies in the ELCA have urged ELCA leaders to create options providing for full participation in the ELCA by bishops and other pastors who cannot accept the mandatory imposition of the historic episcopate; and

WHEREAS, the ELCA Church Council, at its July 28-30, 2000, meeting initiated a process to explore the creation of options that would “allow a synodical bishop, in unusual circumstances and with appropriate consultation, to authorize another ELCA pastor to preside at an ordination” of a pastor; and

WHEREAS, unless there is flexibility for bishops as well as other pastors to remain outside the historic episcopate, pastors who are ordained outside the historic episcopate will have a marginal status within the church and will likely be deprived of normal service opportunities and mobility options in the church; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Sierra Pacific Synod memorialize the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to amend the ELCA Constitution to allow flexibility for bishops and pastors to remain outside the historic episcopate.

Submitted by:
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Sacramento California

Sponsored by:
St James Lutheran Church, Redding CA
Calvary Lutheran Church, Modesto CA.