CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) leadership team members for the "Help the Children" Initiative began the task of affirming and guiding communities of faith as they are called to weave a safety net for children, their families and care givers.
"The social upheavals of our time and the growing gap between the rich and poor have been especially damaging to the lives of children and families," said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the = ELCA.=20 "As we prepare for the new millennium we must assure the youngest and most vulnerable members of our world that they have a future."
"It is the 11th hour for many children whose lives are marked with hopelessness, homelessness, hunger and helplessness," said leadership team coordinator, Terry L. Bowes, Longmont, Colo. "So many children, so little time."
The goal of the Initiative is for each of the ELCA's 11,000 congregations to declare itself a "safe haven" for children. To do this, congregations must commit to creating a gospel-centered, faith-based teaching/learning environment of hospitality that welcomes all children = and their families/care givers, as well as creating a community free from violence, advocating for policies of justice for children's issues, using resources to provide a sanctuary for children for extended care hours, and opening schools as islands of hope.
One way to achieve the "safe haven" goal is through development of the "Safe Haven for Children" resource that guides congregations as they explore ways they make or renew their commitment to be safe havens for children.
The resource, distributed to ELCA congregations in December, includes action steps for creating a safe haven for children, a litany of commitment, a Bible study for adults, an intergenerational activity, a suggested congregational resolution and a covenant that will establish the congregation as an ELCA safe haven congregation.
About 10,000 additional copies of the resource have been distributed.= =20 It has been translated into Spanish and distributed to Spanish-speaking congregations.
The leadership team also expects to model a safe haven at both the 1999 Churchwide Assembly and at the Women of the ELCA Triennial Convention by providing child care for about 50 children from ages birth to 12 years. The team plans to encourage the ELCA's 65 synod assemblies to pass resolutions to be "Synodical Safe Havens for Children," to recognize safe haven congregations and synods, to gather together a children's council, and to share stories of safe haven activities in congregations and in synods.
Reflecting on the tasks ahead, Bowes said, "We go about our work task by task, project by project, meeting by meeting, deadline by deadline, person by person, child by child, because 'children are a heritage from = the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a gift' (Psalm 127:3)."
*Barbara A. Myers is director of communication for the ELCA's Lower Susquehanna Synod.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director 1-773-380-2958 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
