CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) leadership team for a "Help the Children" initiative will model a "safe haven" for children at the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Denver Aug. 16-22.
Safe-haven child-care rooms will be set up for the children of voting members, staff, visitors and volunteers. The rooms will be primarily staffed by trained volunteers who serve in the Foster Share program of Lutheran Family Services of Colorado.
In addition to the child-care rooms, a "Children's Corner" will be available where children can create world hunger bowls and participate in music, arts and crafts, and where ELCA bishops, ELCA Church Council members and other volunteers will read to the children.
Activities in the Children's Corner will take place throughout the assembly as examples of what congregations might do to become safe havens for children, said Terry L. Bowes, Longmont, Colo. Bowes chairs the "Help the Children" leadership team.
Resources for congregations that want to become safe havens for children will be available at the Children's Corner.
The "Help the Children" leadership team also plans to share stories during the assembly of safe-haven projects throughout the ELCA's 11,000 congregations, 65 synods and hundreds of agencies and institutions of the church.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, held every other year, is the chief legislative authority of the church.
In 1997 the ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved seven initiatives as significant areas of ministry for the 21st century. Since then the ELCA has begun planning for new ways to deepen worship life, teach the faith, witness to God's action in the world through moral deliberation and community renewal, strengthen one another in mission, provide a safe place for children, connect with youth and young adults, and provide leadership development.
Leadership teams were formed early last year to provide overall guidance for the work of congregations, synods and churchwide organizations. Team leaders help provide a picture of how the church may be different as a result of the initiatives.
[*Barbara A. Myers is director of communication for the ELCA's Lower Susquehanna Synod.]
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.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
