It's time congregations speak UP!
I, the author of this site, feel there are great advantages to being a part of the ELCA. Denominational structure allows my congregation to support so many more ministries than nondenominational congregations ever could. Through the ELCA, congregations support disaster relief, world hunger, advocacy, immigration and refugees, adoption and social services, missionaries, and so much more. It's really amazing all the things we accomplish. Unfortunately, without making specific commitments to these ministires, congregations often do not hear about all we're accomplishing and, as a result, often do not support mission work at the rate nondenomination congregations do. We need to be better storytellers!
I also love how the ELCA values the voices of all its members. We intentionally live out our "communion of all the saints" theology. For example, when writing a social statement or a social message, everyone is in the ELCA is invited to participate in the process, often given opportunities to provide their input multiple times during the development of the document. This is amazing and something we do not uplift enough within congregations. The other really important way we live out this valuing of all voices is through memorials and resolutions, something most congregations know terribly little about...
In the ELCA, both at Churchwide and at the synodical level, one of the important ways we make our voices heard is through memorials and resolutions. Memorials and resolutions are ways for lower bodies in our church hierarchy to speak UP to hiring bodies. Synod assemblies and synod councils speak UP to the Churchwide Assembly and the Church Council. Congregations and congregation councils (as well as, in some synods, conferences or clusters) speak UP to synod assemblies and synod councils. The theology of our churchbody is built on a premise that we need to hear from the full communion of saints, but I'm afraid most congregations never speak UP. Most don't even know they can.
A memorial or resolution is a way for a congregation to speak UP. It is a way for a congregation to request its synod or the Churchwide body do something (congregations only speak to synods, but their resolutions can request that synods to speak to the Churchwide body). But what? Why would a congregation speak UP? There are so many reasons.
As you read the above examples and topics, what's important to remember is that all of those started in a congregation or a conference or cluster of congregations. These topics are all acts of speaking UP, using our voices to shape synod and Churchwide priorities.
Note: The ELCA already has excellent resources on understanding and writing memorials and resolutions. Please look at those resources! This section will not attempt to replicate the ELCA resources. Rather, this will be a brief summary and slight suppliment to them.
Note: Your synod may also have resources on writing memorials and resolutions. Search your synod website for help. For example, here's one from Greater Milwaukee Synod. Here's another from Southeast Pennsylvania.
| Memorials | Resolutions |
|---|---|
| Address broad policy issues or programs | Recommend specific actions be taken |
| Specifically directed to the Churchwide Assembly | Anything directed to any other body |
The most important thing to remember when speaking UP is that similar bodies speak to similar bodies. The synod council speaks UP to the Church Council, not the Churchwide Assembly. The synod assembly speaks UP to the Churchwide Assembly, not the Church Council. If you want to speak UP to the Church Council, you need to go through your synod council. If you want to speak UP to the Churchwide Assembly, you need to go through the synod assembly.
Note: There is a slight exception to this process. Assemblies can speak to councils at the same level. For example, the synod assembly can direct the synod council to do something, just as the Churchwide Assembly can direct the Church Council and a congregation meeting can direct a congregation council.
The most convoluted example: Your congregation would like something changed in the ELCA Constitution. Let's say you'd like a different model of membership in Chapter 8 of the Model Constitution. You would like the force of your synod assembly behind this request because it is so big. You could do the following:
When writing a memorial or resolution, the important thing to remember is that whereas clauses do not matter at all and are very important. Paradox? Welcome to Lutheranism!
On the one hand, whereas clauses do not matter at all. They have no effect on the resolution and are entirely ignored when voting. Actions are not specified in whereas clauses. They serve purely as background material.
However, whereas clauses are very important. They are your "95 Theses" (please do not make 95 whereas clauses!). They explain why the action is important. They are your chance to argue your case before the floor opens for debate. Good whereas clauses will convince everyone of the importance of the resolved actions.
When writing whereas clauses, the following tips can be helpful:
Finally, if your whereas clauses are more than a page long, you have too many! Practice the time-honored art of trimming. My general rule-of-thumb is the whole resolution, whereas clauses AND resolved statements, should fit on 1 page. Anything more will lose the reader.
Note: If you feel it is impossible to state your case and the actions you want to take in just 1 page (normal font, normal margins, normal spacing), an option would be to include a memo of explanation. This document would only be seen by the Reference and Counsel Committee in charge of reviewing your resolution, but it may help them understand and make suggestions or they may decide to share it beyond if they feel it is helpful. For example, the Churchwide Reference and Counsel often includes background material with memorials.
Resolved statements should answer your basic interview questions: Who, what, when, and how.
Note: For any resolution or memorial, one of the questions you need to answer is, "How is this being paid for?". If there is a cost to the thing you want done, make sure you've consulted with someone about how the synod or Churchwide body is going to pay for this. Just because you want something to happen doesn't mean money will magically appear to fund it.
The most important tip when writing resolutions, however, is simply to ask yourself: Does this need to be a resolution? If there is another faster or more direct route that can be taken first, take that route. If you want the Synod Bishop to do something, ask the Synod Bishop first. If the Bishop says no, then maybe a resolution would be appropriate. For every action, ask yourself if there is a simpler or more direct route that can be taken to achieve your goal.
Note: Remember that synods generally only meet in assembly once a year, and the Churchwide Assembly only meets once every three years. For most items, an informal approach or having a congregation council speak UP to the synod council is a better route than congregations speaking UP to synod assemblies. Speaking UP to synod assemblies should be reserved, whenever possible, for big items that have a long-range vision.
Warning: These are examples and are not meant to claim support or opposition to the topics within the examples.
Honestly, whether preparing a resolution or a memorial, the best way to see how to write one is to look at memorials submitted to Churchwide Assembly. Particularly compare the memorials from synods with the recommended assembly actions from the Churchwide Reference and Counsel. This will help you see both how synod assemblies request actions from the Churchwide Assembly as well as the limits of what the Churchwide Assembly is able to do.
For example, numerous synods submitted memorials in 2022 requesting a myriad of actions on greenhouse gas emissions. The recommended actions, however, did not go anywhere near as far as some memorials requested. The Churchwide body simply did not have the capacity or resources to do everything that was asked. Noticing what the Churchwide Reference and Counsel recommended will help you figure out how to successfully get action from the Churchwide body.
Note: To find Churchwide Assembly memorials, go to the Churchwide Assembly resource page. For any year, find the "Report of the Memorials Committee"
Things to notice in the following example:
WHEREAS the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in Wisconsin is a lead organizer in the Raise the Age Wisconsin Campaign (raisetheagewi.org), a campaign that aims to raise the age at which someone is prosecuted as an adult in Wisconsin from 17 to 18; and
WHEREAS Wisconsin is 1 of 3 states that tries all 17-year-olds as adults (raisetheagewi.org/faq); and
WHEREAS 17-year-olds in the juvenile system are more likely to avoid reincarceration, more likely to receive a high school diploma, and more likely to become productive members of society than 17-year-olds in the adult prison system (Issue Brief at raisetheagewi.org/advocacy); and
WHEREAS most juveniles in Wisconsin corrections facilities have mental health issues and need support not possible in the prison system (Talking Points at raisetheagewi.org/advocacy); and
WHEREAS juveniles comprise less than 1% of the adult prison population in Wisconsin but represent over 20% of its sexual abuse victims, a clear sign that they do not belong in adult prisons (Talking Points at raisetheagewi.org/advocacy); and
WHEREAS the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America clearly states in The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries social statement that “[the criminal justice system] must recognize the special needs of juvenile offenders” and that “youth are different from adults”, a principle that is “supported by a significant body of research showing that brain development is still incomplete at age 18”; and
WHEREAS the social statement goes on to say, “This church supports an end to current practices of trying, sentencing and incarcerating youth in the adult criminal justice system as well as ending youth sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole”; and
WHEREAS the social statement goes on to say, “This church calls upon its members, congregations, social ministry organizations and others to take part in building new social momentum for reforming juvenile corrections practices and treating youth as youth”; and
WHEREAS the over 700 congregations in the 6 Wisconsin synods have the collective power to turn the goals of this campaign into reality; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that this Assembly directs the Synod Bishop to produce a statement in support of the Raise the Age Wisconsin campaign and to contact the Governor of Wisconsin, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Assembly Majority Leader to advocate on behalf of the campaign; and
RESOLVED, that this Assembly calls upon all congregations and worshipping communities within this Synod to encourage their ministers, members, and active participants to contact their elected officials in support of the Raise the Age Wisconsin campaign; and
RESOLVED, that this Assembly directs the Synod Office, in conjunction with the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in Wisconsin and the Raise the Age Wisconsin campaign, to distribute materials to aid congregations in learning about and participating in the Raise the Age Wisconsin campaign and to regularly share communications about the campaign throughout the next year; and
RESOLVED, that this Assembly directs the Synod Office to share this resolution with the other ELCA synods in Wisconsin and directs the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in Wisconsin to share this resolution with its interfaith and secular partners, encouraging them to engage in similar actions; and
RESOLVED, that this Assembly requests that the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in Wisconsin provide an update on the Raise the Age Wisconsin campaign at the 2024 Greater Milwaukee Synod Assembly.
Things to notice in the following example:
WHEREAS baptism is a requirement for membership in the ELCA (C8.01. of the Model Constitution); and
WHEREAS our baptismal liturgy, as printed in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, states that one of the things the baptized do is “care for others and the world God made”; and
WHEREAS the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America clearly states in the Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice social statement is that “humans, in service to God, have special roles on behalf of the whole of creation. Made in the image of God, we are called to care for the earth as God cares for the earth”; and
WHEREAS the social statement goes on to say, “As members of this church, we commit ourselves to personal life styles that contribute to the health of the environment”; and
WHEREAS the social statement goes on to say, “Each congregation should see itself as a center for exploring scriptural and theological foundation for caring for creation. […] As congregations and other expressions of this church, we will seek to incorporate the principles of sufficiency and sustainability in our life. We will advocate the environmental tithe, and we will take other measures that work to limit consumption and reduce wastes. We will, in our budgeting and investment of church funds, demonstrate our care for creation. We will undertake environmental audits and follow through with checkups to ensure our continued commitment.”; and
WHEREAS the social statement goes on to quote an offertory prayer from the Lutheran Book of Worship, which states, “We […] dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord”; and
WHEREAS the new Climate Care social message reaffirms our priority as a church in caring for the world and all that God has made; and
WHEREAS, despite these strong statements about the importance of caring for creation, the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America includes very limited language about creation care, only mentioned in 4.03.b. (the list of how this church will fulfill its purposes) and in 7.51. (the description of a minister of Word and Service), but excluded from the purposes of synods, congregations, ministers of Word and Sacrament, and ministers of Word and Service, as well as unmentioned in the stated purposes of this church (4.02.); therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Greater Milwaukee Synod Assembly direct the Greater Milwaukee Synod Council to request the Church Council and the Office of the Secretary to develop amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to be presented at the 2025 Churchwide Assembly that add the care of creation to the purposes of this church; and
RESOLVED, that these amendments should include adding the purpose of caring for creation to 4.02., 4.03., 7.31.02., 7.61.02., 9.41., 11.21., S6.02., S14.12., S14.32., C4.02., C4.03., C9.03., and C9.23., as well as any other applicable places within the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and
RESOLVED, that the Greater Milwaukee Synod direct the Greater Milwaukee Synod Council to request the Church Council and the Office of the Secretary add a new provision to “Chapter C8. Members” or amend C8.04. (the privileges and duties of members) that include the visions of church membership laid out in 4.03.c. (the vision of membership) and in the liturgies of baptism and affirmation of baptism as printed in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
Things to notice in the following example:
RESOLVED, that the New England Synod Assembly memorializes the 2022 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to direct Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton and to urge ELCA members to call on the president of the United States and the U.S. Congress to oppose legislation penalizing or criminalizing support for nonviolent boycotts, divestment, and/or sanctions on behalf of Palestinian human rights.
Churchwide Reference and Counsel's recommendations for assembly action:
Things to notice in the following example:
RESOLVED, that the Northwest Washington Synod Assembly memorializes the 2022 Churchwide Assembly to ask Portico Services and the Conference of Bishops to review the requirements of the Portico disability program for persons suffering mental illness; and be it further
RESOLVED, that specific attention be given to the ways in which timing related to the rostered minister’s resignation affects potential eligibility for coverage; and be it further
RESOLVED, that a report of this review be given to the Church Council by its 2023 fall meeting.
Churchwide Reference and Counsel's recommendations for assembly action: