CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For 25 years members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and its predecessor church bodies have saved lives and helped communities in need achieve sustainable development with funds from its World Hunger Appeal.
This year congregations of the ELCA will be invited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the World Hunger Appeal and Program through a resolution of "thanksgiving and recommitment." Staff of the ELCA Divisions for Congregational Ministries (DCM), Church in Society and Global Mission drafted the resolution.
Members of the DCM board met here Feb. 26-28 and endorsed the resolution. The board recommended that the ELCA Church Council "commend" that the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopt the resolution.=20 The assembly will be held Aug. 16-22 in Denver.
The resolution calls for the church to increase its awareness of hunger in the United States and throughout the world, to increase financial support of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and Program through regular contributions and designated gifts, and to thank supporters of the appeal.
The appeal has raised about $12 million a year from designated offerings and gifts.
In the winter issue of the "ELCA World Hunger Newsletter," Lita Brusick Johnson, director for the appeal, said, "Income for the appeal has plateaued, while needs at home and overseas could not be greater."=20 She hopes the occasion of the anniversary will "spark new excitement" in giving.
Some ELCA congregations will mark the 25th anniversary of the appeal by using the number 25 in "fun and effective ways" to revitalize commitment to the appeal. Members of the ELCA will pray, conduct "services of recommitment" and plan activities and offerings in celebration of the appeal from Nov. 1-25, 1999.
Under the theme "25-in-25" congregations can put aside an extra 25 cents a day or week for a given time, contribute 25 shares of appreciated stock, or invite youth groups to sponsor fundraisers to collect the cost of 25 pairs of gym shoes.
At its fall 1998 meeting, the ELCA Conference of Bishops affirmed a goal for the church to raise $25 million in honor of the anniversary.
The ELCA World Hunger Appeal was established at the 1987 Constituting Convention of the ELCA. Churches that formed the ELCA launched their World Hunger Appeals in 1974 when a famine struck in Africa and the United States experienced a rural crisis and urban unrest. Since 1974 the appeals have earned more than $200 million.
The ELCA World Hunger Program "helps people help themselves" through emergency relief and long-term development in the United States and abroad.
The program works through many partners, including Lutheran World Relief, the overseas relief and development agency working on behalf of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. It also works through the Lutheran World Federation, a global communion of 124 churches in 69 countries representing more than 57 million of the world's 61 million Lutherans. The ELCA is a member of the LWF.
The ELCA World Hunger Program funds relief and development projects in the United States; provides education about the causes and solutions to global poverty; carries out active projects in environmental stewardship; and helps fund hunger-related advocacy work with states and the federal government.
For every dollar given to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal 72.5 cents supports hunger relief and development around the world. Another 12 cents is spent on hunger relief and development in the United States.=20 Efforts to educate ELCA members about hunger issues and advocacy receive 9 cents, and 6.5 cents is allocated for administration and fundraising expenses.
The ELCA World Hunger Program is housed in the ELCA Division for Church in Society, and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal is housed in the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries.
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For information contact:
John Brooks, 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
