Representation of Congregations in Church Matters

Montana Synod Assembly

RESOLUTION 2002-1 (substitute)

TITLE: Representation of Congregations in Church Matters

SOURCE: Golden West Lutheran Church, Conrad, Montana

Pondera Valley Lutheran Church, Conrad, Montana

Trinity Lutheran Church, Choteau, Montana

WHEREAS, individual membership in the ELCA is a part of a nation fully believing in equal representation, seeking God's will, while being attentive to the needs of all, and giving democratic credence to each person's beliefs, and

WHEREAS, voting members are instructed by church officials to vote their own conscience, not according to or representing thier congregational or synodical viewpoint, and

WHEREAS, the congregation's viewpoint is not always fully communicated to the synodical or national assembly, and

WHEREAS, it should be a goal of the church to inform its members, who according to the Lutheran Confessions, are part of the priesthood of all believers, of the issues and actions to be taken, to insure the church body is in full agreement with policies set down on their behalf, may it be

Resolved, that all congregations and synods inform their people on all sides of Constitutional issues being considered so an informed opinion might be established, thus the voting members to all synod and churchwide assemblies of the ELCA would be enabled to cast their votes in a manner representing the viewpoint and beliefs of the congregations and synods of which they are a part an may it further be

Resolved, that the Montana Synod of the ELCA memorializes the 2003 churchwide assembly to consider this memorial.

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS: Do Pass