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Whereas, the Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) recognizes the importance of the relationships between congregations, synods, and the Churchwide Organization, and further recognizes the interdependent nature of those relationships (ELCA Constitution paragraph 8.11); and
Whereas, the Constitutions of our predecessor bodies recognized the fundamental representative nature of congregations and its members when gathered as the larger church body (ALC Constitution, 503.1, 503.5; LCA Constitution Article X, §5; ULCA Article VIII, §4; AELC Article VIII, §3; ELC Chapter 7, 33); and
Whereas, such representation by constituent churches was implicit when making changes to the constitution that would impact those churches; 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,” (A Report of the Findings on the Questionnaire on Decision-Making, Department for Research and Evaluation, ELCA, April 28, 2004); and
Whereas, 50% of the respondents to the February 2004 ELCA Questionnaire on Decision-Making expressed support for “a congregational or synodical system of approval of churchwide actions,” a significant percentage in that almost all churchwide and synodical leaders received the questionnaire, but proportionately very few congregational leaders; and
Whereas, requiring ratification by synod assemblies or congregations of amendments to the ELCA Constitution would promote better communication and better relationships between congregations, synods, and the Churchwide Assembly; therefore
Be it resolved that the (name) Synod memorializes the 2007 Churchwide Assembly to amend chapter 22 of the ELCA Constitution to add the following provisions:
22.12. Any amendment to the ELCA Constitution, in addition to approval by a regular meeting of the Churchwide Assembly, as required by the ELCA Constitution, must be ratified by threefourths of ELCA synods at duly called synod assemblies or a majority of ELCA congregations within one calendar year of the final approval by the Churchwide Assembly;
And to amend 22.11 by deleting “The constitution of this church may be amended only through either of the following procedures:” and substituting for it, “Any amendment to the constitution of this church shall be amended in accordance with 22.12 of this constitution and through the following procedures:”