CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Those unable to attend the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 16-22 in Denver can participate in 11 real-time online chats on the World Wide Web through the ELCA home page.
The online chats will generally follow presentations and churchwide votes, said Miriam Woolbert, specialist for networks, ELCA Department for Communication.
Live chats "present an opportunity to dialogue with church leaders about topics discussed that day at the Churchwide Assembly," she said.
Hosts for each of the one-hour online sessions will encourage dialogue rather than give formal presentations, said Woolbert.
* Tues., Aug. 17, 7 p.m., EDT, "Report of the Vice President and the Church Council," Dr. Addie J. Butler, ELCA vice president
* Tues., Aug. 17, 8 p.m., EDT, "Women and Children Living in Poverty," Joanne Chadwick, executive director, ELCA Commission for Women
* Wed., Aug. 18, 2:30 p.m., EDT, "Safe Haven for Children," Terry Bowes, chair for the ELCA initiative "Help the Children"
* Wed., Aug. 18, 3:30 p.m., EDT, "Lutheran Services in America, Deaf and Disabilities Report," the Rev. Robert N. Bacher, ELCA executive for administration
* Wed., Aug. 18, 3 p.m., EDT, "Call to Discipleship," the Rev. Paul E. Lutz, associate director, adult education, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries
* Thurs., Aug. 19, 3 p.m., EDT, "Ecumenical Decisions," the Rev. Daniel F. Martensen, director, ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs
* Thurs., Aug. 19, 4 p.m., EDT, "Ecumenical Decisions," the Rev. Michael L. Cooper-White, executive assistant to the bishop; director, ELCA Department for Synodical Relations
* Fri., Aug. 20, 8 p.m., EDT, "Statement on Economic Life," the Rev. Karen L. Bloomquist, director for studies, ELCA Division for Church in Society
* Fri., Aug. 20, 9 p.m., EDT, "Youth and the ELCA," Meredith Lovell, board member, Lutheran Youth Organization
* Sat., Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m., EDT, "Division for Outreach Issues: Rural Ministry, Urban Strategy, Gay and Lesbian Conversation," the Rev. Richard A. Magnus, executive director, ELCA Division for Outreach
* Sun., Aug. 22, 3 p.m., EDT, "Assembly Wrap-Up," the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA Department for Communication
This is the second assembly that online chats have been available. A small number of online chats were moderately attended at the 1997 Churchwide Assembly in Philadelphia, Woolbert said. More live chats are available this year, she said.
The ELCA home page -- www.elca.org -- will list daily highlights of the assembly, as well as links to documents, chat rooms, audio and video. For the first time, assembly plenary sessions will be "Web cast," Woolbert said. A camera will provide a new still photo every 15 seconds. All the audio from plenary sessions will be available on the Web site, she 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
