DENVER (ELCA) -- "The priesthood of all believers" is an ancient Lutheran principle, but it is a matter of daily life for 5.2 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly received a progress report focusing the church's attention on the work of its laity as well as its clergy to "make Christ known."
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting Aug. 16-22 here at the Colorado Convention Center. 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."
"Call to Action: Ministry in Daily Life" was a progress report prepared by the ELCA Division for Ministry and presented to the assembly by Nelvin Vos, Maxatawny, Pa., who chairs the division's board.
The progress report focused on a series of recommendations from the ELCA 1997 Churchwide Assembly to incorporate an emphasis of "ministry in daily life" in many of the emphases that are usually reserved for the clergy: decision-making, theological education and the process of calling people to service in the church.
Vos said the church's "progress in achieving stated goals" regarding the work of all ELCA members in ministry was "good." That means "we have moved ahead, but there is much more to be done, and the work is ongoing," he said.
We are "a people created by God in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, called and sent to bear witness to God's creative, redeeming and sanctifying activity in the world," Vos cited the ELCA Constitution's statement of purpose, emphasizing the last three words -- "in the world."
Vos also cited several questions the report posed to help members of the ELCA "look together at the future of the ministry of the baptized." He asked, "How will young people be honored equally as they discern their vocation, whether called to construction work or public ministry?"
Vos asked the voting members, "Monday morning, when you are back home, how will you participate in and live out your Christian life?"
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
