CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a resolution encouraging celebrations in various settings during 2000 to honor the 30th anniversary of the ordination of Lutheran women in North America.
The council met here Nov. 12-14. It functions as the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, 2001, in Indianapolis.
The council will also honor the 80th anniversary of the first decision of a Lutheran church (Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands) to ordain women.
The resolution was developed by the steering committee of the ELCA Commission for Women. Along with the council, several churchwide boards, steering committees and other expressions of the church will honor the anniversary of the ordination of women.
Congregations and seminaries of the ELCA will plan activities and special worship services to mark the anniversary.
Women represent more than 12 percent (2,191) of the ordained ministers of the ELCA, as of September 1998. Some clergy asked that the 30th anniversary be observed to mark the beginning of a new millennium.
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
