The Consultation Committee (required by S11.01) may be called upon to give counsel when disputes arise within the synod. The committee will consist of 12 persons, elected by the Synod Assembly for a term of 6 years without consecutive reelection. No chair is required.

 

 

• Clergy woman (4 year unexpired term)

 

 

The Discipline Committee (required by S11.01) is called upon in case of formal disciplinary action of a rostered leader. The committee will consist of 12 persons, elected by the Synod Assembly for a term of 6 years without consecutive reelection. No chair required.

 

 

 

 

 

The Synod Council (required by S10) shall be the board of directors of this synod and shall serve as its interim legislative authority between the meetings of the Synod Assembly. The council will consist of 10-24 members elected by the Synod Assembly to serve a 4-year term (2 year for youth), renewable once.

 

 

 

The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be held July 28–Aug. 2, 2025, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, AZ.

 

The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. When the ELCA Churchwide Assembly convenes, its voting members meet with confidence in God’s grace around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on their work on behalf of the entire church. Over the course of the assembly, voting members:

• Hear reports and review the work of churchwide officers, leaders and units.

• Receive and consider proposals from synod assemblies.

• Elect officers, board members and other leaders as specified by the constitution or bylaws.

• Establish ELCA churchwide policy.

• Worship together.

• Adopt a budget.

• Conduct other business related to the ELCA churchwide organization.

 

 

 

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is both the board of directors of a Minnesota nonprofit corporation and the interim legislative authority of the churchwide organization.  The Church Council exercises fiduciary, strategic, and generative responsibilities to govern the ELCA churchwide organization.  Church Council members serve a 6 year non-renewable term and meet twice a year in addition to the Churchwide Assembly.

 

The voting members of the Church Council are the four officers, the chair of the Conference of Bishops and 32–45 individuals elected by the Churchwide Assembly.

 

To enable and support the work of the ELCA in a way that is consistent with its vision, decision-making processes and constitution, the Church Council’s ongoing work includes:

• Reviewing procedures and policies of the churchwide organization to assure that churchwide purposes, policies, and objectives are being fulfilled.

• Acting on proposals, resolutions, and policies, subject to review by the Churchwide Assembly.

• Shaping relationships between the churchwide organization and independent, cooperative, and related Lutheran organizations.

• Submitting budget proposals to the Churchwide Assembly.

• Arranging the processes for all elections as specified in the ELCA's constitution.

• Establishing committees and nominating or electing members as necessary to carry out functions assigned to the Church Council.

• Reporting its actions to the Churchwide Assembly.

 

The Church Council meets twice a year at the Churchwide offices in Chicago.  All travel, lodging, and meals are covered by the churchwide organization.  

 

 

For more information about serving as an ELCA Church Council Member, click HERE.

For more information about the responsibilities of an ELCA Church Council Member, click HERE.