Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Thank you for your prayers regarding my health. I do appreciate and need them! Included in my column this week are some summary comments about the Churchwide Assembly that just ended. I do not always agree with their actions either. Ido think it is important we know what the larger church is doing, for we ourselves are a part of it. This Sunday, the 26th, God through Jeremiah tells the people of God they must honor the Sabbath, and they must live out their worship in their daily lives. The ELCA is making an effort to do justice for returning war veterans, the Christians in Palestine, the people of the Sudan, emphasising to its own people (us) how important it is that we read the Bible! These are some of the ways we participate in ministry to the world. Please read

1

^this pm-w'3L-b

Our Montana voting members commented on the Assembly in a separate email. If you would like an email or printed copy, please let me know. Thanks!

CHICAGO (ELCA) --The Tenth Biennial Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) acted on a variety of topics, including a churchwide initiative focused on Bible study. The assembly acted on proposals regardirlg social concerns such as HIV and AIDS, the situation in Darfur, Sudan, the Iraq War, military veterans, and the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, was re-elected and chaired the assembly. Hanson is also president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Geneva. The assembly also elected a new ELCA secretary, David D. Swartling. Navy Pier, Chicago, was the site of the Churchwide Assembly, Aug. 6-1 1, 2007. About 2,000 people participated, including 1,069 voting members. The theme was "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks Be to God!"

The Churchwide Assembly made no changes to ELCA standards for professional leaders, declining proposals that suggested specific policy changes. By a vote of 538 to 431, the assembly asked its synods and bishops to "refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining" people and congregations that call otherwise-qualified candidates in mutual, chaste and faithful committed same- gender relationships, and it called for restraint in disciplining rostered leaders in committed same-gender relationships. The proposal was adopted as a substitute for a recommendation of the Memorials Committee. Following the decision, Hanson said, "These are words of counsel. They are not words that change the standards of the church. They reflect the mind of this assembly as it seeks to give counsel to the leaders of this church."

The Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality is currently developing a social statement on human sexuality for consideration by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Voting members referred to the task force memorials regarding same- sex blessings, ELCA clergy standards and other matters. The assembly added an amendment to its referral on clergy standards, directing the task force to "specifically address and make recommendations to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly on changes to any policies that preclude practicing homosexual