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The Oil in the Engine of the ELCA
Abstract: ELCA Church Council meets, hears from Bishop Hanson and Secretary Swartling.
The ELCA Church Council met in Chicago November 9 - 11 and the Council heard the first report from newly elected ELCA Secretary David Swartling (pictured). Secretary Swartling does indeed think of the office of secretary as the "oil in the engine of the ELCA".
In his report, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson urged the Church Council to look beyond the Social Statement on Sexuality that is expected in 2009:
We cannot let that social statement define solely the life and work of this church or our leadership... If we become so preoccupied with 2009, we are conveying a message that sexuality defines this church, and (because of) sexuality, this church could potentially be divided. Frankly, that's heresy. That's absolute heresy. The gospel of Jesus Christ defines this church.
I think this (the social statement) is hugely important work for us in these next two years. I'm committed to it, but I will not let it solely define my leadership of this church, because I think that's not responsible.
Among topics considered by the Church Council were mission funding, disaster response, inter-religious relationships, the "Book of Faith" initiative, world hunger, social policy regarding "Sponsorship of Legal Gaming by American Indian Tribes", and the "Lutheran Malaria Initiative".
