ELCIC convention Saturday, June 27

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2009

Sixth Business Session

The third report of the Committee for Reference and Counsel was presented.

• Item 1.1 was brought back to the convention – amended from the form in which it was submitted by mandating that nominations be provided from the NCC, and that nominations from the floor be allowed. The amended motion was adopted.
• Item 1.5, a resolution regarding congregations leaving the ELCIC and the requirement of the ELCIC that these congregations pay a portion of the remaining unfunded liability upon leaving the ELCIC. R&C recommended that no action be taken on this motion. After discussion, this motion was adopted, and the motion will not be debated on the floor of the convention.
• It was noted that item 1.6, a resolution regarding availability and transparency of ELCIC pension information, was withdrawn from consideration by the submitting congregation.

The Rev. Robert Bugbee, president of the Lutheran Church-Canada brought greetings to the convention.

The Rev. Mark Hansen, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, brought greetings and led a study on the theme “Living at the Intersection of Fear and Hope”. He used many stories and analogies – both humorous and touching -- to encourage the church to recognize the coexistence of unity and diversity.

A motion to replace a session of “Committee of the Whole” with a further session of the Committee for Reference and Counsel was declared out of order by Bishop Johnson. This ruling was challenged, and a vote upheld the Johnson’s ruling.

At the Committee of the Whole, numerous comments were received:

• The chairperson of the building committee of St. Luke’s Ridgeway Ontario, brought thanks to all who sent letters of encouragement and prayers of support following the fire which destroyed their building.
• Frustration was expressed that parliamentary procedures seemed to change during the course of the convention, making numerous matters unclear.
• Concern was expressed that motions submitted by congregations and individuals were not allowed to be published in the bulletin of reports, thus limiting delegates’ ability to decide whether or not to deal with these motions. This put the Committee for Reference and Counsel in the position of advising action on motions which were unfamiliar to many delegates.
• Clarification was sought on an issue regarding whether the church has the right to make decisions regarding same-sex blessings and the ordination of practicing homosexual persons (an issue raised at the 2007 national convention, NC-07-34, found on page F3 in the bulletin of reports). This question was sent to the Committee for Faith, Order and Doctrine. After this direction, the question was not brought back to the convention for action, but was decided by NCC. The chair ruled that NCC has the authority to make policy decisions for the church, which it did.
• A delegate reminded us that our peace does not come from the world, but from God.
• A delegate raised a strong objection to the fact that motions from delegates were not discussed, but merely referred to other committees and groups. He pointed out that we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to gather together, only to refer virtually all the matters sent by congregations to other groups to decide, or to refuse to discuss these matters. He suggested that we could have dealt with the entire business through email.
• A delegate who serves on the Anglican-Lutheran Working Group insisted that there was no discussion to see a merger between Anglicans and Lutherans in Canada.
• Comments and a commendation for convention worship was expressed by one delegate. She also called for all delegates to remain together in the ELCIC, and not to “vote with their feet” or “vote with their pocketbook”.
• One delegate expressed his joy that the convention proceedings were being broadcast on the world wide web.

The final ballot for the two Eastern Synod lay members for National Church Council was held. This concluded the sixth business session of the convention.

Seventh Business Session

The final report of the Committee for Registration and Credentials showed a total of 176 lay delegates and 167 ordained delegates for a total of 343 voting delegates. In addition, there were 153 registered visitors.

The convention then adjourned its business in order to form the Luther College Corporation Meeting. At that meeting, college president Bruce Perlson noted that last year the college had a total of 450 students enrolled in programs from grade 9 through graduate studies. Post-secondary studies were conducted in partnership with the University of Regina in the field of Liberal Arts and Science. The financial status of the college is both stable and sound. Perlson noted that in 2008 a former student of Luther College entered the facility and held many hostage with a gun for several hours. He noted that the staff of the college were instrumental in resolving the situation with no injuries or loss of life. The meeting was called to ratify the election of Mr. Stacey Cattell, Mrs. Tamara Emsley, Pastor Lindsay Hognestad, Dr. Don Lee, and Mr. Richard Pedde as members of the Board, as shown on page G2 of the bulletin of reports. This motion was adopted.

The convention then reformed itself into the meeting of the Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute. The report of the Board of Regents noted that 2009-10 will be the 99^th consecutive year of operation for the college. The college is very much involved in youth ministry. Nominations to the Board of Regents were presented for Mr. Phil Johnson, Rev. Rick Johnson, and Ms Ruth Hermanson. This slate of nominees was ratified.

The convention then resumed its identity as the convention of the ELCIC and received the report of the Elections Committee for the two Eastern Synod lay positions on NCC. Edward Pope and Marie-Laure Collet were declared elected.

The report of the NCC was again taken up. Motions 2 through 9 on pages F8 through F10 of the bulletin of reports (all second reading of constitutional amendments) were carried. Motions 10 through 20 beginning on page F11 of the bulletin of report (changes to the administrative bylaws) were all adopted.

The third report of the Committee for Reference and Counsel followed. A motion was proposed that we suspend our governance rules with respect to recommendations from this Committee that no action be taken: the proposal was that these recommendations be non-debatable. A two-thirds majority was required to adopt this motion. After the vote, Bishop Johnson declared the motion carried. A division of the house was called for, and by a vote of 211 to 94 the chair’s ruling was upheld and the motion was carried. Specific R&C recommendations were as follows:

• Motions 1.7 and 1.8 regarding the timing of the selection of lay delegates from congregations – R&C recommended that no action be taken on these motions as NCC had already amended the administrative bylaws in the manner proposed by these two motions. This recommendation was adopted. This raises a question: if the NCC has the authority to amend the ELCIC’s administrative bylaws by itself, as it apparently did in dealing with the timing of delegate selection, why was the convention asked to vote on NCC motions 10 through 20 (beginning on page F11 of the booklet of reports)?
• Motion 1.9, a resolution to maintain the ELCIC as an independent church – R&C recommended that no action be taken because, according to Mark Harris, there is no intent to merge the ELCIC with the Anglican Church of Canada, so no action was necessary. This recommendation was adopted.
• Motion 2.1 regarding Kyotoplus – R&C recommended adopting the motion. The motion was amended by removing specific requirements, making the motion more general in nature. The amended motion was adopted.
• Motion 2.2 regarding a resolution supporting LWF efforts to cancel illegitimate foreign debt – R&C recommended that this motion be adopted. It was adopted.
• Motion 2.3 regarding the establishment of a taskforce to study ways to increase enrollment at the ELCIC’s two seminaries – R&C recommended that this motion be referred to the Program Committee for Leadership for Ministry. This recommendation was adopted.
• Motions 2.4 and 2.5 regarding restraint being shown in discipline meted out to congregations and individuals who acted in contravention of the ELCIC’s policy on same-sex blessings and the ordination of practicing homosexuals – R&C recommended that no action be taken on these motions. The recommendation was adopted.
• Motion 2.6 regarding the eligibility of clergy serving in multi-staff and specialized ministries to be elected to attend national conventions – R&C recommended that this motion be referred to the Structural Renewal Task Force. This recommendation was adopted.
• Motion 2.7 regarding the priority of subsidized housing – R&C recommended that this motion be adopted. It was amended to add that congregations are encouraged to seek ways to undertake such initiatives as well. The amended motion was adopted.
• Motion 2.8 regarding ELCIC Delegate Election Timing – this motion asked synods to make changes to their bylaws to bring them in line with the national church bylaws. R&C recommended the adoption of this motion. It was adopted.
• Motion 3.1 regarding entrance to, and exit from, the ELCIC – R&C recommended that no action be taken on this motion. The recommendation was adopted.
• Motion 3.2 regarding the financial settlement with congregations which have chosen to leave the ELCIC – R&C recommended that no action be taken on this motion. The recommendation was adopted.
• Motion 3.3 regarding the prevention of human trafficking at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games – R&C recommended the adoption of this motion. An amendment was carried adding that the ELCIC support Canadian Council of Churches and LWF initiatives regarding human trafficking. The amended motion was adopted.
• Motions 3.4 and 3.5 regarding support for First Lutheran Church, Vancouver’s granting of sanctuary to an individual who was to be deported – R&C recommended that a motion combining the two motions be adopted. The recommendation, and resulting motion, were adopted.
• Motion 3.6 regarding the stewardship of creation during conventions – R&C recommended the adoption of this motion. The recommendation was adopted.
• Motion 3.7 regarding a vote of gratitude for faithful service by various individuals – R&C recommended that this motion be adopted. The recommendation was adopted.
• Motion 3.8 regarding the assignment of any unfinished business to the NCC for decision and, as appropriate, action – R&C recommended that this motion be adopted. The recommendation was adopted.

It was noted that the next convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada would be held July 14 to 17, 2011, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The agenda having been completed, the twelfth biennial convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada was adjourned.