CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 1999 Lutheran Men's Gathering will bring together grandfathers, fathers, sons and friends to explore what it means to "build a legacy of faith and life" that will make a difference in families today and for generations to come. The gathering will take place Aug. 13-15 at the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, Colo.
Under the theme "Building Legacy," about 1,000 men will worship, participate in workshops and hear keynote presentations. Music will be provided by musician and songwriter Paul Todd, the music group Dakota Road and guitarist Tony Melendez. Born without arms and hands, Melendez plays the guitar with his feet.
The goals of the gathering are three-fold, said Douglas Haugen, director for Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "The event will serve to connect men from all generations in America today, spark new men's ministries in ELCA congregations, and uplift and support the Lutheran Men in Mission organization," he said. LMM is organized in 42 of the ELCA's 65 synods.
Keynote presenters will include the Rev. Walt Wangerin, host of "Lutheran Vespers," the radio ministry of the ELCA; the Rev. Roland D. Martinson, a professor of pastoral care at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., a seminary of the ELCA; and Ken Canfield, president of the National Center for Fathering, a nonprofit education and research center dedicated to "inspiring and equipping" men to be responsible fathers.
The Rev. Albert Starr Jr., pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church, Los Angeles; the Rev. Richard Hardel, executive director for the Youth and Family Institute of Augsburg College, Minneapolis, a college of the ELCA; the Rev. Richard Jensen, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; Bart Campolo, vice president of Kingdomworks, an urban youth ministry, Philadelphia; and Lyman Coleman, president of Serendipity, Littleton, Colo., will also present.
At the gathering men from "the plains, hills, seashores and mountains will discover a fresh relationship with God and with other men on the same faith journey," Haugen said.
The gathering will precede the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Denver, Aug. 16-22.
The goal of LMM is to build men's faith, relationships and ministry through men's gatherings, resources produced by the organization and leadership development. LMM works to achieve its goal by working with men in congregations and synods of the ELCA through gatherings, Bible studies, men's ministry guidebooks and resources, and "coast-to-coast" leadership training, Haugen said.
"Our commitment is to assist every congregation in establishing an effective, life-changing men's ministry so that every man would become a stronger churchman and a stronger family man," he said.
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
