Synod and Region Correspondence 1994-2001

ArchivalResource

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Office of the Presiding Bishop. Synod and Region Correspondence 1994-2001

Synod and Region Correspondence 1994-2001

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123761245

Records in this series comprise correspondence to and from the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) from 1995-2001 and bishops and synod personnel from the 65 synods and 9 regions that comprise the ELCA. While there is synod and region correspondence, the bulk of the records comprise synod correspondence. Records date from 1994-2001 and include original correspondence to Bishop Anderson, copies of replies sent by Bishop Anderson or on his behalf, and copies of correspondence to and from synod bishops, staff, and on occasion congregation members from specific synods, for which Bishop Anderson was a CC recipient of the correspondence. In addition to the correspondence generated by the ELCA's Office of the Bishop, there is also additional correspondence from other ELCA units to synods, most notably the Division for Congregational Ministries and the Division for Outreach. In correspondence received by the bishop, there is sometimes accompanying material in the form of brochures, synod newsletters, or other types of material that provides information on a particular program, event, or ministry of a synod. Some of this material predates the tenure of Bishop Anderson. It is retained in this series for continuity purposes. Most of the correspondence is either typewritten or printed electronic mail. Subject matter of the correspondence includes assembly themes, information regarding installation of bishops, notification of prayer calendars and prayer topics, the crisis in Middle East, the rural crisis of 1998, requests for assistance, e.g. planning synod visits or deliberation on full communion proposals at the 1997 assembly; and pastoral care of gay and lesbian persons in congregations. There is also subject matter pertaining to the wider issue of facing differences among church members regarding the topics of homosexuality and the church and the consideration of a full communion agreement with The Episcopal Church, referred to as "Called to Common Mission." In addition to these subjects as with Bishop Anderson's general correspondence, there is also subject matter related to issues and events specific to each synod. Records are arranged into two subseries: synod correspondence and region correspondence. Within the synod correspondence files are arranged numerically by synod number: 1A, 1B, 1C, etc. Regarding the regional correspondence, there are no folders for regions 2 or 4. Because of the sensitive nature of certain correspondence, the series is restricted at the discretion of the archivist.

5 boxes (2.0 cubic ft.)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library, ELCA Library