Lutheran Asian Association Plans for the Future

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "You are the sign of hope, the future of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, told members of the Association of Asians - ELCA.  Under the theme "Rejoice in Hope: Prayer and Spirituality in Everyday Life," 95 Asian Lutherans from across the United States met June 26-28 in Los Angeles for the association's Fifth Biennial General Assembly. The Association of Asians is a "visible Asian and Pacific Islander community" of the ELCA.
     "Those within society who have clear goals will become the seeds ... from which a new society is born," Anderson said in his keynote presentation.
     "There are close to 23,000 Asians in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," said the Rev. Pongsak Limthongviratn, ELCA director for Asian ministries.  Limthongviratn hopes to increase that number to 30,000 by the year 2007.  He also hopes to expand the number of Asian congregations in the ELCA from 49 to 90 and increase the number of Asian pastors from 40 to 80.
     To meet these goals the association will work closely with the ELCA's Commission for Multicultural Ministries to establish Asian ministry "teams" in places where there are no Asian congregations or ministries, said Limthongviratn.  These teams, consisting of Asian pastors and lay leaders, will minister to people of their own ethnic groups.  The ethnic groups targeted for new ministries between 1997 and 2007 are the Chinese, Hmong, Laotian, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, South Asian, Samoan, Japanese, Korean and second generation Asian American.
     Three ways to expand our ministries, said Limthongviratn, are to develop ministries that will later become organized congregations, to form Asian ministries within English-speaking congregations and to start Asian worship communities within English-speaking congregations.  Limthongviratn believes that these ministries can be successful with good Asian leadership, culturally-sensitive and ethnic-specific worship and information materials, and funding for various projects and activities.
      "We, as a community of communities, can identify with the biblical people of God in their sense of loss of home and tribe, sense of wandering in an inhospitable desert, and great sense of dependence on God's grace and guidance.  Yes, we have a lot to contribute to the development of Christian faith in this church," said the Rev. Frederick E.N. Rajan, executive director for the ELCA's Commission for Multicultural Ministries.
     Rajan urged participants to speak up and be heard and pointed out that because of the diversity of ethnicity and cultures among Asians, there is room for a diversity of theologies.  He strongly encouraged the development of Asian theologies and Christian discipleship resources based on the Bible.  He also called for a dialogue among ethnic communities to help build a community where people of all races can be together to share the Word, the meal and their unique gifts with each other.
     Polai'a Mereane R. Tausili, Seattle, the only Samoan participant at the assembly, proposed to change the name of the association to include Pacific Islanders.  By unanimous vote, the association's name was changed to the Association of Asians/Pacific Islanders -- ELCA.  Tausili, a seminarian who recently translated Luther's catechism into the Samoan language, asked that this change be reflected in ELCA official documents. The association's executive council will take the necessary steps to bring this proposal to the ELCA's Church Council.
     "The new and most important activity the association will undertake will be to encourage the formation of local chapters within the association," reported the Rev. Margarethe S.C. Kleiber, associate pastor for Tierrasanta Lutheran Church, San Diego.  Kleiber was elected president of the association.
     "Local chapters will be able to provide direct support for pastors and ministries affiliated with them.  The local chapters will also be places where mission and outreach for particular areas can be developed," said Kleiber.  The association will also continue to support congregations planning youth ministry events.
     The association will have two categories of membership available to those who "subscribe to the goals and purposes" of the association. Membership is available to all members of the ELCA and to individuals involved in Asian/Pacific Islander ministries whether or not they are members of the ELCA.
     Members voted to amend the bylaws on the term of office for the executive council members "to ensure continuity and efficiency in running the association." The term of office for the secretary, treasurer and members-at-large were extended from two-year terms to four-year terms.  The vice president will serve two years in office and, at the end of two years, will assume the office of the president.  The term of office for the president will be two years.  The vice president will be elected at each assembly.  The association meets biennially.
     Officers for 1997-1999 are the Rev. Margarethe Kleiber, president; the Rev. David Chen, San Diego, vice president; Andrew Yee, Chicago, secretary; Samuel Chih, Hacienda Heights, Calif., treasurer, and the Rev. Cherian Puthiyottil, St. Paul, Minn. council member-at-large.

[**Gigie Sijera-Grant, Baltimore, participated in the ELCA's Multicultural
Writers' Workshop.  Grant is a member of St. Michael Lutheran Church,
Baltimore.]

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html