Previous Proposals

Draft Proposals for Churchwide Structure and Governance

August 25, 2004

Dear Friends in Christ,

It is a pleasure to share with you two draft proposals for the churchwide organization—one on restructuring and the other on governance. How we organize the work of the churchwide expression and how we make decisions are inseparable from our commitment to be a Christ-centered, Spirit-led Church engaged in God’s mission in the world.

These two draft proposals have been developed independently and are now joined as part of a whole. They build on the gifts and strengths of this church while also seeking greater cooperation, collaboration, and communication with our partners in ministry.

The draft restructuring proposal [PDF / PDF en Español], while coming from me, reflects the invaluable contributions of countless ELCA members, the ELCA churchwide staff Planning Team, and the Planning and Evaluation Committee of the ELCA Church Council. I am especially grateful to Charles Miller, Kenn Inskeep and Janet Thompson for their leadership.

The draft governance proposal [PDF / PDF en Español] comes from the ELCA Church Council Executive Committee. It, too, is the result of broad engagement by ELCA members. Ruth Hamilton and Kenn Inskeep have been most helpful in drafting these recommendations.

The writing team of Wendy McCredie, Fern Lee Hagedorn, Kenn Inskeep, and Charles Miller, with assistance from Karen Dersnah and Jeff King, has made the draft document on restructuring accessible and clear.

I welcome your contributions to these proposals. Each of the drafts invites you to make suggestions, either on-line or in writing, so that even stronger proposals can be brought to the Church Council meeting in November. At that meeting, the Council will draft recommendations for presentation to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly.

May God continue to bless our partnership in this important work.

Living in God's amazing grace,

Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop