CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Congregations, agencies and schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have completed a study that precedes distribution of the first draft of a social statement on economic life tentatively called, "Toward Sufficient Sustainable Livelihood for All." The 15-member task force preparing the social statement for the ELCA Division for Church in Society met here Jan. 30-Feb. 1.
Dr. Annette Citzler, who chairs the ELCA Task Force on Economic Life, said, "As a professional economist I find it phenomenal that so many people would grapple with something that is not that easy." Citzler is a professor of economics at Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas.
The study was distributed to the ELCA's 11,000 congregations in November 1996. "The many responses have formed the development of the draft statement," said the Rev. Karen L. Bloomquist, director for studies in the ELCA Division for Church in Society.
Citzler said members of the task force have diverse political and economic opinions and make a "highly effective" group. "We have some difficulty getting agreement on policies," she said. "Our goal is to be specific enough to be helpful, but not so specific that the work becomes dated."
The draft statement deals with the market economy on the brink of the 21st century and the challenge to church and society to ensure a sufficient sustainable livelihood for all. Citzler said, "That theme is always at the forefront of our effort. We are trying to put all our analysis within that framework."
Among "convictions of the faith we confess," one section of the draft examines values of community, stewardship and work. It looks at "productive, distributive and participatory" dimensions of "economic justice."
The draft also analyzes the meaning of "livelihood." It looks at jobs as means of livelihood and respect for human dignity in the pursuit of livelihood.
"I hope people find enough in the statement that it challenges them to rethink how they organize their lives economically," Citzler said.
The principles outlined in the statement will apply to the church itself, Citzler said. "Certainly we want to call the church to account for its economic decisions, including the salaries paid by the church and its agencies."
"I'm impressed by the spirit and quality of participatory deliberation that the task force engaged in to improve the draft," said Bloomquist. The task force included teachers of economics, theology, ethics, business and sociology, parish pastors, community activists, a bishop and assistant bishop, farmers and other entrepreneurs.
Bloomquist said the first draft of the social statement, after further editing, is expected to go to the board of the Division for Church in Society when it meets here March 12-14. The board will be asked to authorize the draft for publication this spring and distribution to ELCA congregations in early summer. Hearings on the statement will be held during the second half of 1998.
The Division for Church in Society will receive responses to the first draft through Dec. 1 to "inform the development of the proposed social statement," said Bloomquist. The proposed social statement will come to the ELCA's 1999 Churchwide Assembly for action.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
