TECHNY, Ill. (ELCA) -- Violence has a serious impact on the lives of children around the world. So, the board of the Division for Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voiced its support for a "Decade of Nonviolence" when it met here Oct. 15-17.
Twenty Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have sponsored an appeal "for the children of the world" and called for a Decade of Nonviolence (2001 to 2010) "to teach the practical meaning and benefits of nonviolence in our daily lives in order to reduce violence and build a new culture of nonviolence."
The board directed the division's staff to consult with the ELCA's Division for Church in Society on finding the best ways to support the Nobel Laureates' appeal. They will also consider ways the ELCA may provide the global community's leadership with resources on nonviolence, especially materials dealing with violence toward children and youth.
The action came in conjunction with related reports about violence in South America and Africa and about a major initiative for the ELCA. Board members heard that children in Colombia -- through the Children's Movement for Peace -- are raising international consciousness about children worldwide who silently suffer the consequences of violence.
The effects of violence in Sierra Leone's civil strife led the board to request a needs assessment and a response for those affected in western Africa. The board asked that ELCA members pray for peace with justice for that country and its people.
The board also heard a report on the ELCA's "Initiatives to Prepare for a New Century" which urges that "we redouble our efforts to aid children, youth and young adults at risk from racism, hunger, violence and poverty, both at home and throughout the world."
In other actions, the Division for Global Mission's board:
+ Requested the ELCA Church Council to approve a transfer of funds so a history research project might continue. The project identifies, collects, preserves and interprets documents that tell the global mission story of the ELCA and its predecessor church bodies.
+ Asked the council to urge ELCA members and congregations to use the 25th anniversary of the World Hunger Appeal in 1999 to increase support for and awareness of hunger in the world.
+ Continued discussion of a long-range planning document, "Global Mission 21," which visualizes the ELCA as "walking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality" with partner churches around the world.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between its meetings of the Churchwide Assembly. The council meets Nov. 12-16 in Chicago. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is August 16-22 in Denver.
[*Sonia C. Solomonson is senior editor for The Lutheran, magazine of the
ELCA.]
For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director 1-773-380-2955 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
