DENVER (ELCA) Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) supported a call for a boycott on conventions and other meetings to be held in South Carolina, and agreed not to hold their spring 2000 meeting in Charleston, S.C.
The Conference of Bishops represents the 65 synods of the ELCA and met here Aug. 15-16 prior to the start of the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The bishops meet for discussion and continuing education at least twice each year.
The bishops were considering a meeting in Charleston, but declined after discussing a call for a boycott from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The call for a boycott is the result of NAACP unhappiness that one of the flags flown at the state capitol building in Columbia, S.C., is the flag of the Confederacy, viewed by many as a symbol of slavery.
Joining with other groups, the ELCA South Carolina Synod on two occasions adopted resolutions that the flag be removed, said the Rev. David A. Donges, bishop.
"We know as well as anyone that the most powerful images are our symbols," Donges said. "I lean in the direction that we should support the boycott."
Donges, who would have hosted the bishops' meeting, moved that the Conference of Bishops not meet in South Carolina "as a moral response" to the flying of the Confederate flag.
"As a lifelong member of the NAACP, I really appreciate this," said the Rev. George P. Mocko, bishop of the ELCA Delaware-Maryland Synod.
The Rev. Callon W. Holloway, Jr., bishop of the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod, said he supported the resolution, but suggested that there may be occasions when the bishops may want to meet in a specific location where their voices can be heard, versus not meeting at the site.
A location for the spring 2000 meeting has not been determined.
In another discussion, Scott S. Fintzen, associate general counsel for the ELCA, asked the bishops to think about how their ministries may be affected by Y2K issues. He said ELCA units are being asked to consider the implications of Y2K for their work.
"There is a chance your ministry may be disrupted in a significant way," Fintzen said. For example, Y2K concerns may include disruptions for overseas missionaries, and travel and hotel problems late in the year and early in 2000.
At least 36 of the ELCA's 65 synods responded to a survey on Y2K, said LaRue Unglabe, director for the ELCA Department for Information Technology. Unglabe urged the bishops to "back up" all computer files, especially as the end of the year approaches.
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
