CHICAGO  The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted the 2004 edition of the "Candidacy Manual of the ELCA," which guides the church's candidacy process, including ways it screens potential pastors and professional lay ministers, according to the ELCA News Service.
The board of the ELCA Division for Ministry revised the manual and supporting forms and documents in October.
The Rev. Stanley N. Olson, executive director, ELCA Division for Ministry, said a clergy sexual misconduct case in Texas was one factor that led the church to "take a fresh look" at the candidacy process. He said the review indicated that the church's policies were fine, but that there were several "ways to tighten them up."
The revised manual emphasizes principles of hospitality, accountability and communication in the candidacy process, Olson said. It also gives added importance to the health and wellness of church leaders, he said.
Background checks into criminal records, motor vehicle records and credit information are new to the process, Olson said. While the information from a background check would not automatically disqualify someone from candidacy, he said, it may provide candidacy committees topics to pursue with candidates. The manual also provides churchwide standards for the candidacy process, he said.
The revised manual will be available in print and on the Internet, according to Olson. All procedures revised in the new manual will go into effect Feb. 1, 2005.
