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- The first ballot for presiding bishop was cast during the first plenary of the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Aug. 5. The vote was declared invalid because of an unconstitutional early vote on the amendments to the bylaws of the ELCA constitution. The vote was taken again during the second plenary session Aug. 6. Photo: Janine Truppay
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- Elizabeth Eaton was reelected ELCA presiding bishop Aug. 6. On the first ballot, 897 votes were cast and 670 votes were needed for election. Eaton received 725 votes, which is 81.9% of the vote. She is the first ELCA presiding bishop to win reelection on the first ballot. “We’ve got work to do that God is giving us to do,” Eaton said following the vote. “Thank you.” Credit: Will Nunnally
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- The co-chairs of the former ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ, Bishop Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld and Brad Wendel, introduced “Faith, Sexism and Justice: A Lutheran Call to Action,” which the assembly will consider for adoption as a social statement. Photo: Janine Truppay
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- In June the ELCA Church Council adopted a “Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent.” Leaders of the African Descent Lutheran Association were invited to the stage for a presentation from council members and members and staff of the working group that drafted the apology. Photo: Janine Truppay
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- In a response to the “Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent,” Lamont Wells, president of the African Descent Lutheran Association, said, “We … can receive this apology as a divine mark of repentance that serves as a catalyst for change. We cannot receive this apology simply as a cheap indulgence to clear the conscience of our oppressors.” Photo: Janine Truppay
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- Silvía Genz, pastor president of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, offered greetings to the assembly and was presented with a gift on behalf of the ELCA. Photo: Will Nunnally
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- The 2019 Federal Chaplaincy Gathering coincided with the Churchwide Assembly, and ELCA chaplains were recognized during the third plenary session. Chaplains processed with deacons during worship Aug. 6. Photo: Janine Truppay
The 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly continued Aug. 6 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. Day two included the second plenary session, at which Elizabeth Eaton was re-elected on the first ballot as presiding bishop; “Faith, Sexism and Justice: A Lutheran Call to Action” was introduced; and a presentation was given of the “Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent.” It also included the third plenary session, at which, among other items, a new interreligious policy statement was introduced and Silvía Genz, pastor president of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, offered greetings.
