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.).
