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View all the images from Saturday, August 23, 2009
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Refugees. Asylum Seekers and Asylees. People in Immigration Detention. Children. These are the people that the Rev. Ralston H. Deffenbaugh, Jr. has spent a life and a career serving as a human rights lawyer, and since 1991, as president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Called the "moral compass" in the debate on immigration, Ralie, as he is known, was honored today with a citation from the ELCA Church Council. The council expressed its deepest appreciation and "that his rich gifts and experience will continue to contribute to a world that is marked by hospitality, grace, and love for the neighbor." |
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Since 1982, Dr. Ishmael Noko is the general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation and undoubtedly the most visible Lutheran in the world. Through the Lutheran World Federation, we are connected with 140 other Lutheran church bodies including more than 70 million Lutherans in 79 countries throughout the world. The ELCA Church Council expressed its gratitude and appreciation for his leadership. |
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On August 19th, a tornado touched down on the roof of the Minneapolis Convention Center, crossed the street, and snapped the historic steeple of Central Lutheran Church in half, leaving its cross dangling upside down high above the street. Today, over 1,000 voting members and guests of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly crossed the same street, entered the magnificent sanctuary, and worshiped. Inside the winds of the Holy Spirit blew just as hard as the storm had days before, reminding us that even when something is broken, the healing Word of God is always with us. |
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Carlos Peña is re-elected for a second six-year term as Vice-President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Peña told the assembly, "I've been incredibly blessed. This is a call from God. Thank you. I’m going to need your prayers." |
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For the next five years Lutherans will study justice for women in church and society. By a vote of 754-176, the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America moved to develop a social statement on the topic, slated to be considered by the 2015 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Read the ELCA News Release. |
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View all the images from Saturday, August 23, 2009 |