As the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly was meeting there was much concern expressed about the 2020 National Election which will be very important, but the campaigns could be divisive, brutal and not especially informative. The Assembly asked that a social message be developed on this topic for the following reasons:
On themes such as the call to citizenship, civic engagement, and the nature of government, the social teaching of the Lutheran heritage and the ELCA is not well known to many, is not gathered in one place, and is not presented in language accessible to the average church member.
The ELCA has a pressing need for an accessible official teaching document addressing how and why Christians as citizens and the church as a corporate body should be active in the public square.
The current political rhetoric and climate demand a fast-tracked message to help Christians as they participate in this electoral cycle.
While the current political situation has sharpened this need, a churchwide process that invites all members to join in discernment on these topics is long overdue, and the writing process can open up conversation and provide a tool for years to come.
In response to this request the ELCA Church Council authorized the development of a social message on the vocation of citizenship, civic engagement, and church and state. The goal is to develop an ELCA social message with an accompanying basic study guide by the end of July 2020. The message is expected to be short and pithy, well-focused on the most important and relevant themes, and easily accessible to average adult readers. The parameters for development will be: the Holy Scriptures, The ELCA Constitution; and ELCA social statements as Church in Society, The Church and Criminal Justice, and For Peace in God’s World, as well as several relevant social policy resolutions and The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The proposed message, currently in draft form, is now available to us for our review and response by May 27. This is a very short time, but is understandable if responses are to be evaluated, appropriate amendments are to be made, approval of the ELCA Church Council be secured and the final message be available for our use by the end of July 2020.
The draft social message may be found at: www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Messages/Government. The cover letter provides a link to a survey which helps guide you through the document as well as serving as the response format for evaluations and recommendations.
On May 12 at 1:00 – 2:00 pm Pastor Joe and Pastor Ives will have a Zoom session when you are invited to bring your thoughts, questions, recommendations etc. which will then be forwarded to the ELCA for their consideration. The meeting ID is 967 2880 9776; password 445202.