CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has not made satisfactory progress toward its goal of having at least 10 percent of its membership be people of color or whose primary language is not English, said Carol L. Weiser, Bethlehem, Pa., a member of the ELCA Church Council.
The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between meetings of its churchwide assemblies. The council met here April 9-12. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is August 16-22 in Denver.
At the recommendation of its program and structure committee, the Church Council directed the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries (CMM) to review its present "structural" relationship with other units and expressions of the church.
"This is not a criticism of the current structure, but an encouragement to take the next step," Weiser said. The council expressed "deep appreciation" for the staff and steering committee of the Commission for Multicultural Ministries.
The council also "affirmed the renewal" of CMM's mandate. The commission assists the church in working toward the goal of "full partnership and participation" of African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Arab and Middle Eastern, and Hispanic people in the "life of the church and society."
In April 1997 the program and structure committee began a review of the commission. The committee observed that the United States is a "multicultural mission field," said Weiser. "The Commission for Multicultural Ministries is essential to the mission of our church."
Through its budget and finance committee, the Church Council will evaluate CMM's budget and grants and recommend the that 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly "reaffirm" the church's commitment to be a multicultural church.
The council's program and structure committee establishes a process for the review of at least two ELCA units each biennium; all units of the church are reviewed within a ten-year period.
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
