Conference of Bishops meeting moves the actions of CWA 2009 closer to implementation
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The Conference of Bishops meeting, October 1—6, has made great progress in moving the actions from the 2009 Churchwide Assembly closer to implementation, despite admonishments to do nothing towards implementation by the president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), the Rev Gerald B Kieschnick and by Archbishop Wilton D Gregory, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Goodsoil, Lutherans Concerned / North America and Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) were present during the meeting, providing information and the possibility of direct communications.

The bishops held discussions about how to receive pastors seeking reinstatement and those from ELM. A committee of bishops has been formed to engage the pastors on the ELM roster with a view to reporting back to the Conference of Bishops in time for the January 2010 Academy meeting of the bishops.

Pastor Erik Christensen, Co-Chair of ELM, said "Challenging conversations are ahead of us, but these are the challenging conversations awaited for 20 years."

The start of a reinstatement process for those removed more than five years ago from the rosters of the ELCA for reasons of the previous policy could begin now. That process starts with application for reinstatement by the individual. For those removed from the rosters of the ELCA within the last five years, application cannot be made until the 5-year waiting period requirement is rescinded, a subject that is to go before the Church Council at its November meeting.

The bishops requested to see the changes being made to Vision and Expectations and Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline before they are sent to the Church Council for action. This will put those changes to the bishops in time for their meeting in March, prior to the April meeting of the Church Council.

Emily Eastwood, Executive Director, Lutherans Concerned / North America, said, "Though we are disappointed that resolution could not be had in time for the November Church Council meeting, the discussions of the bishops were thorough, thoughtful, and revealed a commitment to moving forward to implementation of the decisions of the 2009 assembly. We went to the meeting of the bishops as a solid coalition of ELM, Goodsoil and Lutherans Concerned/North America. We are pleased that progress has been made, and that there is a commitment to resolution in time for the April 2010 Church Council meeting. Particularly, we are pleased that at long last we are being talked with, instead of just being talked about."