more work to do

Although several historic votes have taken place in the ELCA at the Churchwide Assembly in the last few days, we still have a number of items to vote on Saturday and Sunday here in Minneapolis.

+whether to call for a social statement on “Justice for Women” (gender justice)
+whether to vote to include a larger number/percentage of youth in our official legislative bodies (churchwide assembly and ELCA church council)
+whether to overrule the Memorials committee and ask for a social statement on Human Disability (the Memorials committee had asked Church in Society to do an official “message” not a full “social statement”)
+whether to pass the Memorials committee recommendation on Israel/Palestine or to substitute one of the suggestions passed at synod assemblies (in my opinion, the Memorials committee recommendation is sufficient)
+whether to pass the 2010-2011 budget (expect those unhappy with policy change to make a huge stink here, and possibly seek to thwart its passage – I hope I’m wrong)
+the presiding bishop has indicated a desire to share in conversation about how to remain united in the midst of disagreements, but I don’t know what form that will take

So please keep us in prayer. The assembly ends on Sunday early afternoon.