Highlights From the Fourth Day of NCC Meetings

Winnipeg, 10 March 2008 -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Church Council (NCC) met in Winnipeg from March 5-8. On Saturday, council began their session at 9:00 a.m. with Opening Devotions by Tom Brook.

The first report of the day was from Ruth Vince, Executive Director of Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc. (ELW). Vince spoke to NCC about the upcoming ELW Board Meeting scheduled for March 27-30 where the board will be exploring possible outcomes from recent cross-Canada focus groups. Also on the horizon for ELW is the 2008 National ELW Quadrennial Convention, taking place in Calgary, AB July 10-13, 2008. NCC Council members praised Vince and ELW for the recent work being done on resources for the whole church. Both "What's Enough" and "No Place Like Home" have been very well received in ELCIC congregations. Bishop Johnson thanked Vince for the partnership in ministry ELW has expressed with the ELCIC and applauded the continued courage of ELW to share, "signs of hope with the church in the midst of challenging times."

NCC reviewed the appointments of two ELCIC board positions on the Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) Board of Directors. Both Rev. Dr. Mark Harris and Rev. Dr. Faith Rohrbough were re-appointed to the CLWR board for a second term.

NCC members shared some final thoughts on the visioning work they had done earlier in the meeting. A motion to adopt the visioning directions in principle was carried unanimously. It was explained that the vision principles, organized around five areas of emphasis,q will provide a framework for the work of the National Office. Highlights from the visioning sessions include the church continuing its emphasis on being a more outward-looking church, along with striving to articulate the ELCIC's unique Lutheran role in living out the call to discipleship and how the ELCIC might answer that call through diverse and effective partnerships both within Canada and globally.

The next meeting of NCC will take place September 11-13, 2008 in Winnipeg. NCC meetings are also scheduled for March 5-7, 2009 and September 10-12, 2009. The meeting concluding with Closing Worship service. Bishop Susan Johnson presided and the Rt. Rev. Colin Johnson, Bishop of Toronto of the Anglican Church of Canada, delivered the sermon.

Photo highlights from the meeting are available on the NCC page of the ELCIC website: http://elcic.ca/National-Church-Council/default.cfm