* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution:A051
Title:Amending Article VIII of the Constitution
Topic:Constitution
Committee:14 - Ministry
House of Initial Action:Bishops
Proposer:Standing Commission on Constitution and Canons

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the last paragraph of Article VIII of the Constitution be amended to read as follows:

A bishop may permit an ordained minister in good standing in a church with which this church is in full communion as specified by the Canons who has made the foregoing declaration, or a minister ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or its predecessor bodies who has made the promise of conformity required by that church in place of the foregoing declaration to officiate on a temporary basis as an ordained minister of this church.


EXPLANATION

This amendment was adopted as A021 in 2006. The explanation from the 2006 Blue Book Report stated: "The current Constitution only permits occasional services by clergy of the ELCA. This amendment should remove the need to amend the Constitution each time this church enters into an agreement of full communion." The Commission recommends adoption at second reading in 2009.

* Note: The final language, as well as the final status of each resolution, is being reviewed by the General Convention office. The Journal of the 76th General Convention and the Constitution and Canons will be published once the review process has been completed.