Compare Constellations

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Churchwide Assemblies Correspondence 1987-1995

Title: Churchwide Assemblies Correspondence 1987-1995

This collection contains correspondence to and from the office of Bishop Herbert Chilstrom regarding the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Constituting Convention and biennial Churchwide Assemblies. Also included are some news clippings and newsletters regarding the assemblies. Correspondents include the Justice Network of the Lutheran Church, members and pastors of individual ELCA congregations, the Lutheran World Federation, ELCA synod bishops, voting members of the assemblies, international Lutheran and other denominational church leaders, and Lutheran college and seminary presidents. Subjects covered in the correspondence include costs of sending voting members to the assemblies, invitations to the assemblies, programming plans for the assemblies, requests for transcripts and audio copies of speeches given at the assemblies, discussion of the dynamics of integrating three separate church bodies (the American Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in America, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches) into one working church body, tithing, ELCA budgets, and abortion. Files are arranged chronologically.

ArchivalResource: 1 box (.4 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837842 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Synod Correspondence 1987-1995

Title: Synod Correspondence 1987-1995

This series contains correspondence concerning synodical matters to and from Bishop Herbert Chilstrom during his tenure from 1987 to 1995. Correspondents include Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) synod bishops as well as lay members and pastors. Lists of the synod bishops who served from 1987 through 1995 are included at the beginning of most of the folders. Files are arranged by region. (Additional synod files can be found in ELCA 9/1/1/5, Herbert W. Chilstrom Synod Files.) Topics covered vary widely. Some topics include installations of bishops, procedures for disciplining pastors, financial support for retired pastors, letters of complaint, homosexuality (such as blessing of same-sex relationships and ordination of gay and lesbian pastors. This topic was particularly prominent in region 2A, Northern California), and appointments of synod bishops. The greatest amount of correspondence is from ELCA members writing to Bishop Chilstrom regarding some problem they had in their parish, asking for Chilstrom's help by supporting a pastor in trouble or helping the parishioner lodge a complaint against an unhearing synod bishop. Much of the correspondence from Bishop Chilstrom is in response to problems concerning synod bishops. Bishop Chilstrom's responses clearly state his inability to interfere with synod concerns. Some letters have photographs attached to them. In the Miscellaneous section, the Letters to Synod Bishops and Responses contain a letter from Bishop Chilstrom to all synod bishops regarding fiscal matters for the synods from 1989 to 1991. Included with the letters are charts showing total congregational giving, operating expenses, proportionate share and total benevolence for each ELCA synod. Mailings to Church Council members concern choosing Bishop Chilstrom's successor and functions of the Church Council. Mailings to Synod Bishops include pastoral letters, correspondence regarding installation and removal of synod bishops, and letters informing the synod bishops of ELCA actions and policies. Regional Coordinators correspondence includes mainly congratulations to those elected to the position of regional coordinator.

ArchivalResource: 8 boxes (3.2 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837873 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Churchwide Special Offerings Correspondence 1991-1995

Title: Churchwide Special Offerings Correspondence 1991-1995

This series consists mainly of correspondence, but also includes financial records and reports regarding churchwide financial appeals from 1991 through 1993. Files are arranged chronologically. Correspondence regarding the 1991 Special Offering includes letters to ELCA synod bishops, board members, and churchwide staff. The correspondence describes the financial difficulties felt in early 1991 and the consequent special offering. Also included is correspondence thanking synods for their participation in the effort to raise funds for the ELCA in its early stages. Copies of letters sent by synod bishops to their pastors are also included in this file. Correspondence regarding the 1992 Ingathering also includes letters to ELCA synod bishops exhorting them to seek financial assistance from their pastors and congregations, as well as letters to Church Council members, synod secretaries and treasurers, regional coordinators, board and committee members, and ELCA churchwide staff. Letters from Bishop Chilstrom and his office give various examples of fund-raising techniques that the pastors could use as well as general requests for help with the Ingathering. Responses are from synod bishops and reflect an overall willingness and ability to participate in the Ingathering. The 1993 Churchwide Offering files contain correspondence, a majority of which is to and from synod bishops. Vision for Mission is the final churchwide offering in this series. The files contain more correspondence from ELCA lay members as well as from ELCA pastors. Also, unlike previous offerings, a greater number of the responses to this funding initiative are negative. Some of the poor response was the result of the Division for Church in Society's draft statement, "The Church and Human Sexuality: a Lutheran Perspective" (see also Human Sexuality Correspondence, ELCA 9/1/1/2/5) and the ELCA's perceived support of the Re-Imagining Conference (see also Subject Correspondence, ELCA 9/1/1/2/9) on women in religion.

ArchivalResource: 2 boxes (.6 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837846 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Travel and Schedule Records 1987-1995

Title: Travel and Schedule Records 1987-1995

Files include schedules (also referred to as calendars) as well as materials regarding individual trips taken by Bishop Chilstrom. In the Schedules subgroup, the Event Participation Summary is a listing of synod-, congregation-, college-, and seminary-sponsored events in which Bishop Chilstrom participated. The lists are arranged by synod, college, and seminary. The Forums with ELCA Units were designed to give ELCA staff the opportunity to discuss with Bishop Chilstrom any topic of concern. Staff submitted questions in advance, and the forums were carried out in an informal setting. Schedules include pages from Bishop Chilstrom's calendars and copies of his travel itineraries. The Trips files contain speeches given at events to which Bishop Chilstrom traveled. Also included are itineraries, correspondence, journal entries, and news releases. Files are arranged chronologically. The occasion for the 1987 Viborg, Denmark trip was the acceptance of the ELCA into the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

ArchivalResource: 2 boxes (.8 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837882 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. "Foundations for the Future" Records 1988

Title: "Foundations for the Future" Records 1988

This series contains all drafts and the final printed version of "Foundations for the Future: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at the Threshold of a New Millennium." The pamphlet began as a paper delivered at a conference at California Lutheran University. The final draft was prepared for the ELCA Church Council, Cabinet of Executives, and for distribution to voting members at 1988 synod assemblies. It served as a means of communicating Bishop Chilstrom's thoughts on ways Lutherans could make a smooth transition to the new Lutheran church body. All files are from 1988 and are arranged from the first draft through the final printed version.

ArchivalResource: 1 box (.2 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837884 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Invitation Correspondence and other material 1987-1995

Title: Invitation Correspondence and other material 1987-1995

This series contains correspondence and phone messages regarding invitations to Bishop Chilstrom to attend various events throughout the country. Invitations include requests for Bishop Chilstrom to speak at local Lutheran churches or institutions for events such as dedications of new facilities and congregation anniversaries, to attend conferences and synod assemblies, and to receive awards (institutions include colleges, seminaries, medical centers, and children's homes). Most of the organizations requesting Bishop Chilstrom's presence are Lutheran, but also included are invitations from other denominations and their organizational units, such as the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as ecumenical organizations like the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC). Although many of the invitations are from organizations located within the United States, some come from areas such as Cameroun and Germany. Other invitations ask Bishop Chilstrom to attend a church or visit an institution at his earliest convenience. Some letters have photographs attached to them. Files are arranged chronologically. Main correspondents include synod bishops, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastors, and ELCA lay members.

ArchivalResource: 3 boxes (1 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837859 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Subject Files 1987-2001; 1995-2001

Title: Subject Files 1987-2001; 1995-2001

This series comprises records retained or generated by the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) from 1995-2001. In addition to records generated by Bishop Anderson, there are also several files containing records generated by Bishop Anderson's predecessor, the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom, presiding bishop of the ELCA from 1987-1995. These records were retained by Bishop Anderson during his tenure most likely because he was referred to them during the course of his work. Therefore, they were kept with the rest of his files for continuity purposes in processing this record series. Records are from 1987-2001 but the bulk of records dates from 1995-2001. These records were generated or retained by Bishop Anderson during the course of his carrying out the duties as prescribed to the position of presiding bishop as outlined in the ELCA's constitution and bylaws. Typewritten business correspondence and printed electronic email business correspondence represent the majority of the records. Other record types include agenda and exhibits, minutes, news articles, pamphlets, brochures, topical reports, calendars, a guest register, worship bulletins, circular letters, and news clippings. Records are arranged by subseries. Several subseries include records generated through the course of Bishop Anderson's communications with ELCA churchwide divisions, units, sections, the Conference of Bishops, Church Council, church officers and other churchwide staff, as well as records reflecting his participation and leadership of the churchwide organization's cabinet of executives and planning team. These records represent Bishop Anderson's interaction and participation with the various work units that comprised the programmatic activity of the church and pertain to areas of ministry the church was undertaking, budgeting for the work of the church, staffing and planning issues, and progress reports on particular projects or initiatives. Also included in this series are Bishop Anderson's travel schedule and itineraries for his entire term as bishop. In addition to the regular correspondence with church officers, Office of the Bishop staff, church divisions, units, and sections, there are folders pertaining to specific subject matter. These subjects correspond to an issue confronting the church, a type of ministry it was undertaking, or an issue, topic, or subject pertaining to a current event in the United States or the world-at-large, or a news event, such as a natural or man-made disaster. Examples of this type of subject matter include immigration, abortion, hunger, poverty, nuclear disarmament, racism, world peace, homosexuality, bigotry, gun control, pornography, rural community issues, landmines, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and refugees. Many of the records pertaining to particular subjects represent the bishop's role as the public face of the church as it addressed issues of social, racial, and economic injustice, war, healthcare, societal problems, environmental problems, and concerns for the poor, oppressed, and underrepresented. In regards to the folders labeled "Anderson sign-on letters," these folders contain correspondence contacting the bishop asking him to endorse a particular resolution and the accompanying "sign-on" letter. The sign-on letter itself was generally addressed to people in leadership positions in governments, e.g. congresspersons, senators, and other elected officials. Sign-on letters were written by an organization in charge of the advocacy efforts on a particular topic and then various national leaders, members of academic communities, and religious leaders would lend their signatures to the letters as a show of support. These folders include correspondence with notations about whether or not the bishop will or should sign the letter or notations seeking clarification from other ELCA staff members on particular resolutions.

ArchivalResource: 22 boxes (8.6 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123761279 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Greeting Correspondence 1987-1995

Title: Greeting Correspondence 1987-1995

This series contains correspondence to and from Bishop Chilstrom and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) staff, parish members, and Lutheran agencies. Occasions for the greeting correspondence include agency anniversaries; clergy ordinations, birthdays, retirement, and installations; congregational anniversaries; gift acknowledgments; and wedding anniversaries. The Events and Publications file contains letters regarding requests for Bishop Chilstrom's work to be published or his participation in certain events. Lay Persons Recognition correspondence includes congratulations to ELCA members on various occasions, such as birthdays, retiring from positions as church musicians, and teaching. Letters of Appreciation are to ELCA staff as well as lay people, thanking them for gifts, cards, donations, and letters of support. Files are arranged alphabetically.

ArchivalResource: 4 boxes (1.4 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837853 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Interdenominational Correspondence and Other Material 1987-2001

Title: Interdenominational Correspondence and Other Material 1987-2001

Interdenominational correspondence and other material either generated or retained by the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) from 1995-2001 comprise the records in this series. While Bishop Anderson's term ran from 1995-2001, records in this series pre-date his tenure as bishop and are from 1987-2001. The series includes correspondence of Bishop Anderson's predecessor, the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom, presiding bishop of the ELCA from 1987-1995. For continuity purposes, records generated and retained by Bishop Chilstrom were kept in this series. These files represent communications the presiding bishop had with other Christian denominations in the United States. Included in this series is typewritten and printed electronic mail correspondence with other Lutheran church bodies, including the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and the American Association of Lutheran Churches, as well as correspondence with protestant denominations with which the ELCA has full-communion agreements. Examples of these church bodies include the Presbyterian Church USA, the Episcopal Church USA, the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church of Christ. Also found in this series is correspondence between the U.S. Roman Catholic Church and the ELCA. Subject matter of this series is varied. For several church bodies the correspondence amounts to invitations to attend celebrations, installations, or present greetings at annual church meetings or conventions. However, for churches with which the ELCA was in talks to develop full communion agreements there is also correspondence that relates to that subject. The largest amount of correspondence in the series is between the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). This correspondence deals not only with general subject matter, e.g. attendance at conventions or meetings, but also with arrangements for meetings of the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation, which comprised representatives from the ELCA and LCMS meeting on a regular basis to discuss a variety of matters relating to shared ministry or differences between the church bodies. Files are arranged alphabetically.

ArchivalResource: 8 boxes (3.0 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123761254 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Ecumenical Records 1987-1995

Title: Ecumenical Records 1987-1995

This series contains correspondence, reports, minutes, agenda, newsletters, and financial documents regarding Bishop Chilstrom's activities in ecumenical organizations. Files are arranged alphabetically within the subgroupings. Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue files contain correspondence from the leaders of the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. as well as Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastors. Topics include requests by ELCA pastors to be on the committee discussing relations with the Episcopal Church, responses to published updates of the Dialogue, and reactions to a proposed study of the Lutheran-Episcopal Dialogue III report "Toward Full Communion" and the Concordat of Agreement. Files regarding the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) include correspondence from ELCA lay members, clergy and churchwide staff, college and seminary presidents and staff, LWF representatives and officers, as well as copies of correspondence from LWF to international organizations. Also included are materials such as minutes, reports, financial statements, and studies from LWF assemblies. Topics covered include nominating delegates to attend the LWF assemblies, responses to LWF actions, grants given to the LWF, and studies performed by the LWF. National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC) files include correspondence, pamphlets, agenda, minutes, reports, and newsletters. Major correspondents include NCC staff and representatives as well as ELCA Office of the Bishop staff. Topics include the resignation of Arie Brouwer as General Secretary of the NCC; attempts by the NCC to address concerns of Orthodox churches, who suspended their membership in the NCC in 1991; nominations of ELCA staff to NCC boards and committees; financial concerns; a meeting of NCC representatives with President Bill Clinton in 1993; and a special committee for discussing relationships with Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, and Pentecostals, of which Bishop Chilstrom served as chair. Files of the Religious Alliance Against Pornography (RAAP) contain correspondence, pamphlets, newsletters, reports, minutes, news clippings, and conference programs. Bishop Chilstrom served on the executive committee of RAAP. Major topics include grant-making activities by the RAAP to the Siebert Lutheran Foundation and invitations to attend the 1995 international conference, "Protecting Our Children's Future," sponsored by the RAAP. Vision Interfaith Satellite Network (VISN), also known as Faith and Values Network, is an ecumenical group that attempts to bring what its representatives believe to be quality programming to television. Files include by-laws, correspondence, meeting minutes, advertising material, and reports. Bishop Chilstrom served as a Trustee for the organization. World Council of Churches (WCC) files contain correspondence, conference and assembly materials, and by-laws. Correspondents include William Rusch, Executive Director of the Office of Ecumenical Affairs (later, Department for Ecumenical Affairs) as well as Bishop Chilstrom and WCC representatives.

ArchivalResource: 4 boxes (1.6 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837875 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Installation materials 1987

Title: Installation materials 1987

This collection consists mainly of material regarding invitations to Bishop Chilstrom's installation and the following dinner and reception. There are some memos from Bea Sorenson, Assistant Director for Finance, to Lowell Almen, Secretary of the ELCA. The invitations to the installation were extended by Lowell Almen to members of the Commission for a New Lutheran Church (CNLC), the ELCA's Transition Team, staff of the uniting church bodies (Lutheran Church in America, The American Lutheran Church, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches), ecumenical organizations, ELCA staff, college and seminary presidents, and Chilstrom's family and friends. Files are arranged alphabetically within subgroups.

ArchivalResource: 2 boxes (.6 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837879 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Reflections on the State of the Church Correspondence 1992

Title: Reflections on the State of the Church Correspondence 1992

This series contains responses to a request from Bishop Chilstrom for the Conference of Bishops, Regional Coordinators, Church Council, and Cabinet of Executives to respond in detail to the bishop's 1992 report to the Church Council. (For additional correspondence on this subject, please see Bishop Chilstrom's Subject Correspondence, ELCA 9/1/1/2/9.) The responses were compiled and presented in a report located in this series, "Reflections on the State of the Church." This report is marked as confidential and not for publication or further distribution. Files are arranged alphabetically.

ArchivalResource: 1 box (.2 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837869 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Synod Records 1987-1995

Title: Synod Records 1987-1995

This series contains correspondence, reports, and evaluations regarding the synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Files are arranged alphabetically. Making Christ Known events, part of the Mission90 program developed by Bishop Chilstrom, were evaluated by participating synods (see also ELCA 9/3/1/1, Mission90 records). The completed forms for 1992 through 1995 are filed here. Synod-Churchwide Consultations are annual meetings between the ELCA bishop and synod bishops. Topics discussed include churchwide budgets, synod shares of the churchwide budget, and stewardship plans for each of the synods. Additional information on ELCA synods can be found in Bishop Chilstrom's Synod Correspondence series, ELCA 9/1/1/2/10. Synod Assemblies records contain correspondence regarding reactions of synod bishops and ELCA lay people to addresses given at synod assemblies.

ArchivalResource: 1 box (.2 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837880 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Photographs, Contact Sheets, and Negatives 1987-1993 ; 1995.

Title: Photographs, Contact Sheets, and Negatives 1987-1993 ; 1995.

This series comprises 173 black and white photographs, 24 color photographs, 2 contact sheets, 18 individual negatives, and 3 negative strips. These records date from 1987-1993 and 1995, but many of the records are undated. The subject matter of these photographs and negatives is of Bishop Chilstrom and duties in which he was involved as Presiding Bishop. The various settings for these photographs includes world travel, meetings with religious leaders, a tour of the military base at Fort Lewis in Washington state, the ELCA constituting convention, and work at the ELCA headquarters at the Lutheran Center. While many of the photographs are undated or unidentified as to the context in which the photograph of Bishop Chilstrom was taken, it appears that several of the photographs originated with the Publication Department of Augsburg Fortress or the ELCA's own Department for Communication. For many of the individual shots there are duplicate photographs. Individual prints include a notation if a corresponding negative is available.

ArchivalResource: 2 negative cut strips: b&w.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837893 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Subject Correspondence 1987-1995.

Title: Subject Correspondence 1987-1995.

This series contains subject correspondence files maintained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Office of the Bishop during Herbert W. Chilstrom's terms from 1987 to 1995. The correspondence comes from a variety of sources, such as ELCA pastors seeking advice on how to help their members with problems, letters from ELCA staff referring questions to Bishop Chilstrom, and letters from ELCA parishioners registering praise or criticism for positions the ELCA took on certain subjects. The entire series of correspondence spans Chilstrom's terms as bishop of the ELCA from 1987 to1995. However, some files concern very specific subjects, such as responses to the 1992 Church Council report, and therefore span only a brief period of time. Files on other topics, such as homosexuality, contain correspondence from all of Chilstrom's years as presiding bishop. Some photographs are included in the collection. Files are arranged alphabetically by subject, then larger subject files are subdivided by the last name of the correspondent. Usually the files contain letters received by Bishop Chilstrom, which are attached to a copy of his reply. Bishop Chilstrom's replies include referrals to other ELCA offices as well as his responses to questions or comments on ELCA issues. Major topics of discussion include abortion, homosexuality (gays in the military, ordination of gay pastors), ELCA staff and clergy issues, general international issues (Bosnia, Israel and Palestine, South Africa), conflict in the Middle East, Bishop Chilstrom's Mission90 initiative, the Re-Imagining Conference for women, responses to Bishop Chilstrom's 1992 report to the Church Council, and worship practices in the ELCA. The correspondence on Abortion ranges from 1989 to 1995. A significant portion of that correspondence refers to the statement on abortion approved at the 1991 Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA began in 1990 to attempt to reconcile the American Lutheran Church (TALC) and Lutheran Church in America (LCA) positions on abortion and to write its own social statement on the subject. Conflict in the Middle East files contain correspondence regarding the ELCA's position on the war in the Persian Gulf. The correspondence is arranged chronologically. Correspondents include ELCA pastors and lay people, voicing either their support for or protest against Bishop Chilstrom's communications with President George Bush regarding the Persian Gulf war. The correspondence regarding Homosexuality indicates the beginning of the ELCA's studies on homosexuality. Bishop Chilstrom's own personal beliefs regarding homosexuality changed from his time as a bishop of the Minnesota Synod to when he served as presiding bishop of the ELCA. A great deal of correspondence was generated by the ELCA's discussion of whether to support the U.S. government's intention to lift the ban on gays in the military. Of particular interest is the file of correspondence with military chaplains. Other files that deal with homosexuality include the blessing of same-sex relationships by the ELCA, ordination of homosexuals by the ELCA, and requests for copies of Bishop Chilstrom's "A Study of Issues Concerning Homosexuality," a pastoral letter written when Chilstrom was bishop of the Minnesota Synod of the LCA. More correspondence regarding homosexuality can be found in the Office of the Bishop Human Sexuality Correspondence series, ELCA 9/1/1/2/5. Correspondence regarding the Re-Imagining Conference held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in November 1994 is another large segment of this series. The conference was an international ecumenical gathering concerning women in religious traditions. Other issues discussed at the conference included racism, prostitution, and children's spirituality. Some controversy stemmed from the worship materials used during the conference. Some ELCA members who disapproved of that aspect of the conference were disturbed by the fact that the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM) had given a,000 grant to the conference. Bishop Chilstrom's responses generally expressed a shared concern about the use of some and the absence of other worship materials, but also pointed out that the conference was not sponsored by the ELCA, nor were ELCA pastors who were present at the event there as representatives of the ELCA. The files of responses to Bishop Chilstrom's 1992 Report to the Church Council are divided by the group responding to the report, such as synod bishops and Church Council members. A summary of the report can be found in The Lutheran, May 1992. Bishop Chilstrom received many responses from Lutheran colleges regarding his suggestion that the ELCA discontinue churchwide financial support for church colleges, shifting funding responsibilities to the synods. Most of the letters express concern that any funding of colleges and seminaries would be reduced. Bishop Chilstrom's responses only register acknowledgment of the correspondents' concern and agreement that it would be best not to have to reduce funding for education in the ELCA. There are also many responses from synod bishops, who were asked by Bishop Chilstrom to respond to his proposals at the Church Council. (For additional responses to Chilstrom's Report please see Reflections on the State of the Church Correspondence, ELCA 9/1/1/2/8.).

ArchivalResource: 25 boxes (9.8 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837870 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Draft Statement on Human Sexuality Correspondence 1991-1995

Title: Draft Statement on Human Sexuality Correspondence 1991-1995

These files contain correspondence from ELCA lay people and pastors regarding the ELCA's draft statement on Human Sexuality. Attached to each letter received by the bishop's office is a copy of the office response. The response from the bishop's office to the correspondent was usually a form letter simply acknowledging receipt of the person's letter. Copies of the various form letters used are located in the file "Responses from Office of the Bishop, Form Letters and Address Lists." A copy of the original letter received was then sent to DCS. Sometimes more personal responses were sent to representatives of larger organizations, such as the World Mission Prayer League, as well as to individual ELCA pastors. Letters received from ELCA parishioners were usually in response to newspaper articles regarding the draft statement. Many people attached clippings from their local newspapers regarding the draft to their letters. Files are arranged into correspondence regarding the different drafts of the statement. The first is responses to The Church and Human Sexuality: a Lutheran Perspective; second, Human Sexuality and the Christian Faith; and third, Human Sexuality, Working Draft. Files are arranged alphabetically within these groupings. The first group of correspondence, regarding "The Church and Human Sexuality: a Lutheran Perspective," is from individuals and is arranged by the last name of the correspondent. There is also "Group Correspondence," or correspondence received from entire congregations or organizations. The "Enclosures" file gives an excellent background of the beginnings of the study and those who participated in the task force. It also includes a copy of the statement. Other groupings of correspondence include anonymous correspondence, correspondence with bishops, the Church Council, college and seminary administration and faculty, and with Task Force members. Also included are responses to the "Church and Human Sexuality" study predecessor, "Human Sexuality and the Christian Faith," published in 1992, and the second draft of the "Church and Human Sexuality" paper, "Human Sexuality, Working Draft," published in October 1994.

ArchivalResource: 7 boxes (2.8 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837856 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Writings, General 1987-1995

Title: Writings, General 1987-1995

This series contains the unpublished writings of Bishop Chilstrom. His Reports to Synods, Pastoral Letters, and On Occasion were intended for internal ELCA reading. The materials in the On Occasion file were written to ELCA staff during the ELCA's nascent period and are an indicator of the concerns of a newly formed church. The Reports to Synods give a good overall picture of the ELCA's programs and activities during Bishop Chilstrom's terms. These files are arranged alphabetically. The Greetings, Speeches, and Articles are a collection of Bishop Chilstrom's various writings, but contain more speeches than articles. Speeches include those given at colleges and seminaries, at installations of synodical bishops, to ELCA Church Councils, to the Conference of Bishops, at Churchwide Assemblies, at the acceptance of the ELCA into the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), at churches, and at other ELCA functions. Other writings include articles for the Lutheran Forum. These files are arranged chronologically.

ArchivalResource: 1 box (.4 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837887 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Miscellaneous Correspondence 1987-1995

Title: Miscellaneous Correspondence 1987-1995

These files contain general correspondence to and from Bishop Chilstrom during his terms as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The correspondence is filed by the last name of the correspondent. Letters were filed here if they covered too many topics to be filed in a single subject correspondence file (see Subject Correspondence, ELCA 9/1/1/2/9) or regarded a subject that did not garner enough attention to merit its own subject file series. Files are arranged alphabetically. There are occasionally separate correspondence files for individuals (such as Karl Donfried, Christine Grumm, Will Herzfeld, and David Preus). These are listed after the general correspondence by people with surnames starting with the same letter. The majority of the correspondents are ELCA lay members and pastors writing to seek help from or to express their opinions to the Office of the Bishop. Topics covered include a wide variety of subjects, including suicide, ELCA cooperation with Boy Scouting in the U.S., and the ELCA's constitution and stance on certain topics. At the end of the series is the file "Correspondence with Congregations, Arranged by State." This file contains letters received from entire congregations, rather than individual members.

ArchivalResource: 7 boxes (2.8 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837863 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. The Year 2000 And Beyond Conference Records 1989.

Title: The Year 2000 And Beyond Conference Records 1989.

The files contain planning material for the conference, including correspondence with, accounts from, and brochures for the Pheasant Run resort in St. Charles, Illinois. Also included are responses from participants in the conference. Other correspondence is that with Morris Sorenson, Executive Assistant to the bishop, and Philip Hefner. Philip Hefner, a member of the Chicago Center for Religion and Science and professor at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, wrote the Prologue for the workbook. The Congregational Resource by Ron Klug was a solicited piece of writing regarding the conference, which served as a resource for congregations. Also included is a copy of the workbook used for the conference. Files are arranged alphabetically.

ArchivalResource: 1 box (.4 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837889 View

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. ELCA Unit Correspondence 1987-1995

Title: ELCA Unit Correspondence 1987-1995

This series contains correspondence to and from Bishop Chilstrom and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) staff. While most of the correspondence is from churchwide staff, there are occasional letters from ELCA lay members. These letters deal with questions regarding specific functions of some ELCA units, such as commentary on articles published in Lutheran Women Today or responses to Bishop Chilstrom's column in The Lutheran. Files are arranged alphabetically by the name of the ELCA unit, then chronologically with the unit files. Files for ELCA units that have changed names are filed under each separate name. For example, the Commission for Communication changed to the Department for Communication; there are files for both units. The following is a listing of current and past ELCA Unit names, showing which files relate to each other: Current ELCA Unit Name; Former ELCA Unit Name(s) Department for Communication; Commission for Communication Department for Ecumenical Affairs; Office for Ecumenical Affairs Department for Human Resources; Office for Personnel Department for Research and Evaluation; Office for Research, Planning and Evaluation Department for Synodical Relations; Begun in 1992 (services such as the Office for Federal Chaplaincies originally were under the authority of the Office of the Bishop) Division for Church in Society; Division for Social Ministry Organizations and Commission for Church in Society Division for Congregational Ministries; Commission for Financial Support and Division for Congregational Life Division for Higher Education and Schools; Division for Education The correspondence includes general business letters, such as letters of congratulations to people upon appointment to positions in the ELCA, as well as letters from Bishop Chilstrom regarding the daily operations of the ELCA. One part of this series does not contain correspondence from ELCA staff, however. The correspondence contained in files regarding Bishop Chilstrom's column in The Lutheran are not from ELCA staff; rather, they are from ELCA lay members who read the column. These responses were filed by Bishop Chilstrom's staff with the unit correspondence and are thus included in this series. Additional responses to Bishop Chilstrom's The Lutheran column can be found in the subject correspondence, ELCA 9/1/1/2/9, arranged by the subject of Chilstrom's column (such as the ban on homosexuals in the military).

ArchivalResource: 9 boxes (3.4 cubic ft.)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/84837851 View