Voting members pray during a plenary session.
The Rev. Stan Olson (right), executive director, Vocation and Education, readies himself to go up to the stage.
Microphone pages at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sing during Friday morning's plenary session.
Voting members of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly look through information.
Voting members from northwest Iowa of pray before voting at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
The Rev. Timothy Householder speaks agains the ministy policies recommendation.
Steve Loy, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, answers a question at the 2009 ELCA Churcwide Assembly.
Voting members pray together before voting at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
A voting member proposes an amendment, which was later defeated, to the rules of policy and procedure. The amendment would have allowed amendment proposers to speak on their amendments before debate was terminated.
Voting members sing a hymn during Friday morning's plenary session.
Ann Nierdringhaus, Duluth, Minn., leads the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in opening prayer during plenary session eight. Niedringshaus is a member of the ELCA Church Council.
Voting members sing during a plenary session of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Chuch in America.
Bishop Hanson responds to a voting member during plenary session eight at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Bishop Hanson listens to voting members during plenary session eight at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
The Rev. Rebecca Larson, executve director, ELCA Church in Society program unit, clarifies a point to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Diane Yeager, Metropolitan Synod of Washington D.C. Synod, speaks to an amendment.
Voting members from the Northwest Iowa Synod.
The newly ordained Rev. Jennie Lightfoot (left) listens during plenary session eight during the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Lightfoot was ordained Aug. 13 in Minneapolis.
Voting members listen to the results of a vote.
Voting members take a moment to pray before voting.
A voting member keeps track of the proceeding during plenary session eight.
Marianne Griebler, associate director for marketing - member communications and storytelling confers with Scott Hendrickson, director for marketing, public relations and creative services.
Ad Hoc Committee on the ministry standards recommendation.
Voting members praying before voting.
Voting member Jared Johnson, Windsor, New Jersey, sports a new lid for plenary session eight.
Personalization is where it's at!
Voting members wait for their opportunity to speak to an issue.
A voting member holds up a white card to indicate that she is calling for a motion.
A voting member takes a moment to pray before voting.
Many in attendance are congregational observers or other visitors who are interested in the proceedings.
Voting members wait to speak during plenary session eight.
Scott Hendrickson, director for marketing, public relations and creative services, talks to the production chief.
Time for a hymn during plenary session eight.
Voting members during plenary session eight.
