ELCA Women Hear the State of the ELCA

ST. LOUIS (ELCA) Dr. Addie J. Butler, vice president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), highlighted seven churchwide activities in her speech at the Fourth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA.
The convention met here July 8-11 at the America's Center. The organization's three-year theme, "Live God's Justice," was unveiled amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, business sessions and elections.
In the Bible, the number seven implies something "whole, full and complete," Butler said. In listing the highlights she thanked Women of the ELCA for their involvement:

25th ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD HUNGER APPEAL
In April the church council renewed a commitment to the appeal and included a reference to the Women of the ELCA, she said.
Butler also quoted a letter from Lita Brusick Johnson, ELCA director for world hunger and disaster appeals, "There have been no more faithful and regular supporters of the church's World Hunger Appeal than the Women of the ELCA and the women's groups in congregations," Johnson said.

ANTI-RACISM EFFORTS
"The Women of the ELCA was on the leading edge of advocating for and getting involved in anti-racism training," Butler said. Women of the ELCA is on record as committed to anti-racism and is to be commended, she said. Butler reminded participants that a=20 "single anti-racism training session is not enough," racism must be=20 confronted repeatedly, she said.

FINANCES
Butler thanked Women of the ELCA for its gift of $1 million to the ELCA, calling the gift an "expression of partnership in mission." This gift contributed to the total income to the national church exceeding the amount needed to meet the budget, Butler said.

ECUMENICAL RELATIONS
Butler discussed the "Formula of Agreement" that was adopted at the ELCA's 1997 Churchwide Assembly to enter into full communion with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ. This August, delegates to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly in Denver will consider full communion proposals with The Episcopal Church and the Moravian Church in America.
Few people realize that the ELCA is in conversation with members of other denominations Roman Catholic, Orthodox and the African Methodist Episcopal Churches to find common ground, Butler said. Even fewer people know the ELCA is in conversation with people of Jewish, Muslim and Buddist faiths, she said.

THE ELCA INDENTITY PROJECT
Based on research from the ELCA Department for Research and Evaluation, 70 percent of respondents said they get their primary information about religion from television, Butler said.
In response, the ELCA launched the Identity Project, a campaign to increase awareness of the ELCA. Advertising includes 30- and 60-second television spots targeting Generation X-ers and Baby Boomers, she said.

A SOCIAL STATEMENT ON ECONOMIC LIFE
At the churchwide assembly this August, action will be taken on the recommendation to adopt a new social statement on economic life, "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All. This means having enough, maintaining income over time and a means of making a living that highlights the dignity of work, Butler said.

INITIATIVES FOR A NEW CENTURY
The initiatives are ministry priorities identified by the ELCA's 1997 Churchwide Assembly. The initiatives include: deepen our worship life, teach the faith, witness to God's action in the world, strengthen one another in mission, help the children, connect with youth and young adults and develop leaders for the next century. Women of the ELCA is involved with each of these initiatives, Butler said.
"The initiatives are alive and well as we stand on the brink of a new millennium," Butler said.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html