Voting Members speak at the microphones during the debate on the ELCA Studies on Sexuality.
Pr. Herbert Chilstrom during Plenary Session Nine
Pr. Gerald Kieshnick; President; The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS)
Bp. Stephen Blaire, chair of the Bishops, Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Assembly prays before each major vote.
Folks from Good Soil - wearing rainbow stoles - and Solid Rock Lutherans - with Luther Rose stickers - fill the visitor section today.
Visitors listen as intently as Voting Members.
Voting Members seriously consider the actions before them.
Even late in the plenary session, this crossword puzzle has not even been started.
Big screens help Voting Members keep track of Assembly business. There are seven big screens and two smaller monitors in the plenary hall.
Voting Members express appreciation for the open captioning.
"Go to Worship!"
Voting Members head to worship after the morning Plenary Session on the consideration of recommendations on the ELCA Studies on Sexuality.
Bishop April Ulring Larson, La Crosse Area Synod
Sr. Anne Keefer, Director, ELCA Deaconness Community, Chicago, read the lessons for Friday's Holy Communion service.
Passing of Peace
Passing of Peace amongst Ecumenical guests at the morning Worship service.
Passing of Peace during Friday morning's Worship service.
Communion Assistants
Cindy Cowen, Pr. Victoria Hamilton and Janet Brewer
The Rev. Kenneth M. Ruppar from Lutheran Church of Our Saviour wears a Davey and Goliath pin in support of bringing the original episodes back to television.
Signs from different groups wanting to influence the decisions of the Assembly.
Visitors to the Churchwide Assembly (along with some Voting Members) stand in the Voting Members section of the plenary hall.
The Assembly considers changes to recommendation three concerning the ordination of people in committed same-sex unions.
The Assembly considers recommendation three concerning the ordination of people in committed same-sex unions. The recommendation failed.
Bp. Stephen Blaire (chair of the Bishops Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) commented on the Assemblys theme Marked with the Cross of Christ Forever, on the Roman Catholic Lutheran Joint Declaration on Justification by Faith, and the desire to share Holy Communion. Bp. Blaire brought greetings from the Roman Catholic Church to the Assembly.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson entertained questions at a news conference after the Assembly decisions on the Sexuality Studies recommendations.
