DENVER (ELCA) -- Representatives from the World Council of Churches (WCC) and National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC) greeted participants of the 1999 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA is a member of both organizations.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here at the Colorado Convention Center, Aug. 16-22. There are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,038 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Hope for a New Century."
"WYP, We are Your Partner," said Kathy J. Magnus, member of the WCC central committee. Magnus is also associate director for international personnel, ELCA Division for Global Mission.
"We are your partner in prayer, action and dialogue," Magnus said. She cited areas where the WCC is working throughout the world as part of Action for Churches Together (ACT) -- the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, Sudan and Turkey.
"The WCC encourages biblical and theological reflection and articulation to promote a culture of solidarity," Magnus said.
Video greetings came from the Rev. Konrad Reiser, general secretary, WCC. Reiser thanked the ELCA for touching on "concerns at the heart of our ecumenical calling" for movement "toward visible unity in churches of Christ," by approving full communion with the Moravian Church in America and The Episcopal Church.
"The ELCA is an active and committed member of this fellowship," said Reiser of the ELCA involvement in WCC.
Reiser said the WCC was preparing for a meeting of the central committee to be held in Geneva Aug. 26-Sept. 3. More than 150 Protestant and Orthodox delegates representing the 336 member churches will attend the meeting.
The WCC is an international Christian organization that promotes ecumenical collaboration, founded on Jesus' prayer for unity.
Dr. Staccato Powell, deputy secretary for national ministries, brought greetings on behalf of the NCC.
"You have taken a bold step to manifest and personify your goal of 'making Christ known' for this assembly," he said.
Powell called the passage of the full communion proposals a "tremendous step," and he hoped other denominations would follow.
The council is a national movement for Christian unity and has a membership of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican churches. This fall, the council will celebrate it's 25th anniversary in Cleveland, where the organization was founded.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
- - -
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
