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Whereas, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) values, supports and upholds the congregations and synods of the ELCA; and
Whereas, this synod supports clear and direct accountability for all voting members and representatives; and
Whereas, the Church Council of the ELCA is presently composed of members who are nominated and elected at the Churchwide Assembly rather than at synod assemblies; and
Whereas, this synod subscribes to the belief that accountability is a necessary requirement for the proper division and distribution of power and authority, and that accountability is promoted by elections where the electors are more likely to know the nominees; and
Whereas, the responses to the February 2004 ELCA Questionnaire on Decision-Making include: "The primary opinion expressed in the comments of the pastors and council presidents . . . is the perception that a relatively small group of ELCA members is currently setting the agenda in the ELCA," and "many groups disagreed with the current size of the Church Council" (A Report of the Findings on the Questionnaire on Decision-Making, Department for Research and Evaluation, ELCA, April 28, 2004); and
Whereas, a Church Council that included a representative elected by each synod would help to address the perceived disconnection between the churchwide organization and the rest of the ELCA; therefore
Be it resolved that the (name) Synod memorializes the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to provide for the direct election of Church Council members by individual synods by amending ELCA Constitution 14.31 as follows:
14.31. The voting members of the Church Council shall consist of the four churchwide officers and thirty-three other persons, sixty-five other persons, each elected by synod assemblies to represent their respective synods on the Church Council elected by the Churchwide Assembly.