CRLC

Everything you need to know about the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church

The 2022 Churchwide Assembly voted as follows:

“… To direct the Church Council to establish a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church comprised of leaders of diverse representation from all three expressions that, working in consultation with the Conference of Bishops and the Church Council, shall reconsider the statements of purpose for each of the expressions of this church, the principles of its organizational structure, and all matters pertaining thereunto, being particularly attentive to our shared commitment to dismantle racism, and will present its findings and recommendations to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in preparation for a possible reconstituting convention to be called under the rules for a special meeting of the Churchwide Assembly.” [CA22.01.06]

The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church is in place and working as directed.

Timeline for CRLC's plan that is currently on ELCA's website:

Spring 2025

Draft CRLC report and recommendations shared with Conference of Bishops for comment

April 3-6, 2025

Final CRLC report and recommendations shared with Church Council to forward report and recommendations to 2025 Churchwide Assembly for the assembly’s consideration

July 28-Aug. 2, 2025

2025 Churchwide Assembly considers CRLC report and recommendations in Phoenix, AZ.

Learn more about the CRLC’s plan in this Living Lutheran article:

Inside the Commission that could restructure the ELCA

(Download PDF version here)

CRLC Latest Updates:

January 25, 2025:
- The How We Are Governed Committee reported on their work including conversations held with the churchwide officers and other churchwide staff, a reminder of the CRLC-recommended items previously approved by the Church Council, and additional recommendations. Five proposals were presented and approved to be included in the CRLC final report, which will be finalized after the upcoming consultation with the Conference of Bishops and Church Council.

January 24, 2025:
- The Setting the Table Committee presented its document, which listed the “Presenting Issues” from the listening sessions and surveys conducted earlier in the CRLC’s work. The CRLC discussed and voted on each issue to be included as findings in the CRLC final report and the rationale for recommendations in the report.
- The All Ears Committee discussed the concept of potential resources that could be created to support and explain the theological and ecclesiological underpinnings of some of the issues that have surfaced during the work of the CRLC. Further discussion on this topic will be coordinated with the Communications Committee.
- Committee 34 led a discussion of the current realities associated with the structure and purposes of the three expressions of the ELCA (congregations, synods, churchwide organization) and the interdependence of those expressions. Discussion included education on the models of governance from the ELCA predecessor bodies and other polity forms.
- The Dismantling Racism Committee discussed adding language to the CRLC final report, including key insights gleaned from the examination of the governance of the ELCA with an emphasis on dismantling racism and how this can continue to be addressed in the future.

January 23, 2025:
- The CRLC received an educational presentation from ELCA resource persons to better understand the term “reconstituting convention.” The churchwide memorial that created the CRLC stated that the CRLC “will present its findings and recommendations to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in preparation for a possible reconstituting convention to be called under the rules for a special meeting of the Churchwide Assembly.“ This presentation covered the constitutionally correct term of “Special Meeting,” the logistical considerations surrounding such a meeting, and the process of calling a “Special Meeting” which requires a two-thirds vote of the Church Council.
- Several CRLC Committees met individually to continue their work. This included the combined Who Are We Committee and Why and What Committee. This combined committee is now known as Committee 34.

August 10, 2024:
- The Who Are We Committee presented a draft of a constitutional language update specifically for related institutions, organizations, and ministries (RIOMs).
- The How Are We Governed Committee presented draft proposals of possible changes to governance structures.

August 9, 2024:

The Why and What Committee presented their work, leading the CRLC in an exercise discussing the definitions of different parts of the ELCA according to the ELCA, Synod, and Congregation Constitutions.
The Who Are We Committee led the CRLC in a discussion about constitutional language updates. The committee also presented updates on their examination of the name of our denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The How Are We Governed Committee provided a rough outline of the current governance structures of the church and began discussion by the full CRLC of matters relating to accountability, autonomy versus uniformity, and the need for structural flexibility.

To stay updated with CRLC news on ELCA’s site, click here.

CRLC

The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church is in place and working as directed.

Spring 2025

April 3-6, 2025

July 28-Aug. 2, 2025

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