Day three of Churchwide Assembly - in photos

: Capt. Timothy Eichler, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, greets the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly on behalf of military chaplains. In speaking on the difference military chaplaincy makes, he said, “Gen. Mark Welsh, the 20th chief of staff for the U.S. Air Force, at his retirement ceremony … said of chaplains – ‘I’ve seen the places where angels live. I’ve never seen God. I’ve never heard his voice … but … I’ve seen your face. I’ve heard your voice.’ At our best, we chaplains live out every day the intentions of the ELCA in fulfilling relationships with our full-communion partners.”

: Although the ELCA has continued to decline since its inception—like many mainstream denominations—Secretary Chris Boerger encouraged voting members to see all 3.7 million of its members as missionaries. He also spoke of the ELCA’s unique governance in which each of the three expressions is interdependent. Boerger named the challenges this presents and called on each expression—congregations, synods and churchwide organization—“to claim its identity as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”

: Worship featured interpretive dance. Pictured is Roberto Lara-Aranda from the Metropolitan New York Synod.

: ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton high fives Bishop Denis J. Madden, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and co-chair of the ‘Declaration on the Way’ task force after the assembly voted to accept the “Declaration on the Way,” a unique ecumenical document that marks a path toward greater unity between Catholics and Lutherans.

: Rabbi Sandmel, director of interfaith affairs for the Anti-Defamation League, and Sayyid Syeed, national director with the Islamic Society of North America in the office of Interfaith and Community Alliances, brought greetings to the assembly.

: The assembly voted 921-11 to approve AMMPARO, the ELCA’s strategy to “Accompany Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities.”

: Linda Norman (left), ELCA treasurer; Vicki Garber, chair of the Church Council’s Budget and Finance Committee; and Wyvetta Bullock, ELCA executive for administration, introduced the 2017-2019 budget proposal. The assembly voted 895-23 to accept the proposal, which had been approved and recommended by the council.

Day three of Churchwide Assembly — in photos