Montana Synod Assembly

RESOLUTION 2002-9

TITLE:         Ratification of Policy and Practice.

SOURCE:    Pastors of the Bearpaw Cluster

  
WHEREAS,  "The Church exists both as an inclusive fellowship and as local congregations gathered for worship and Christian service.  Congregations find their fulfillment in the universal community of the Church, and the universal Church exists in and through congregations.  This church, therefore, derives it character and powers both from the sanction and representation of its congregations and from its inherent nature as an expression of the broader fellowship of the faithful" (Article 3.02); and,

WHEREAS, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America understands itself in "its three primary expressions - congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization" (Article 1.01.01); and

WHEREAS, "This Church, in faithfulness to the Gospel, is committed to be an inclusive church in the midst of division in society.  Therefore, in their organization and outreach, the congregations, synods, and churchwide units of this church shall seek to exhibit the inclusive unity that is God's will for the Church" (Article 5.01b); and,

WHEREAS, "The congregations, synods, and churchwide organization of this church are interdependent partners sharing responsibility in God's mission" (Article 5.01.c); and

WHEREAS, "Each synod, in partnership with the churchwide organization, shall bear primary responsibility for the oversight of the life and mission of this church in its territory" (Article 10.21); and,

WHEREAS, the Church, ever reforming, must from time to time reexamine it policy and practices, in order to better serve the Gospel and the needs of God's people; and

WHEREAS, such a reexamination is to be made with sincere regard to the commitments to partnership and interdependence as expressed in this church's Constitution; therefore be it 

RESOLVED that the Montana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America memorializes the Church Council of the ELCA to propose to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly an amendment to the Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America by which:

1)     legislative decisions made by the Churchwide Assembly regarding changes in the practice and  policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America shall be referred for ratification by the voting members of the various synod assemblies; and,

2)    such changes shall become effective upon approval by 50% of the synods

All above quotations are from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions, 1993 edition.

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS: NO RECOMMENDATION