ELCA News Service

A service for journalists and members of the news media

     WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- The Feeding America network reported an increase in the number of clients who came to their emergency food program sites, according to a recent "Hunger in America 2010" study. The network is a nationwide group of food pantries, community kitchens and shelters. Sponsors of these groups are primarily faith-based or religiously-affiliated programs.
     "Lutherans are actively involved in addressing both the immediate needs and the root causes of hunger and poverty," said Nancy Arnison, director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger Program. She said the ELCA provides much-needed grants to food pantries across this country through the church's World Hunger Program.
     Since 2006, the need for emergency food assistance has increased 46 percent, according to the report. In 2009, 37 million people, including nearly 14 million children and ...(more)

World Orthodox Leader Tells ELCA Delegation Dialogue Will Continue
Feb 08, 2010; 10-056-JB (Updated)

     ISTANBUL, Turkey (ELCA) -- His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, world Orthodox leader, said that official international theological dialogue with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will continue. He made the comment as he hosted an official delegation from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) here Feb. 8.
     Leading the official 12-member ELCA delegation is the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
     Bartholomew I began his comments by recounting his recent trip to the United States. He hosted an environmental symposium in Mississippi, visited with business leaders in New York and met U.S. political leaders in Washington, D.C. 
     He said he discussed the plight of the Orthodox in this country with leaders in the Obama Administration and the U.S. Congress.  With only ...(more)

ELCA Delegation Visits Closed Orthodox Seminary in Turkey
Feb 08, 2010; 10-055-JB

     HEYBELIADA ISLAND, Turkey (ELCA) -- They wait faithfully and hope.
     Two Orthodox leaders, Metropolitan Apostolos, abbot, and Father Dorotheos, maintain the Holy Monastery and Theological School at Halki, waiting for the day when students will be allowed to resume seminary studies here.
      The two met with an official delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) here Feb. 7.  The delegation, led by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World Federation, traveled here to see the seminary and learn why it has remained closed by the government of Turkey since 1971.
     The seminary is operated by the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate, Istanbul.  The Halki seminary has educated students since 1844 but was closed 39 years ago when the government ordered 63 private higher education institutions to ...(more)