Joint Declaration Signing Most Significant ELCA News Event of '99

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The historic signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in Augsburg, Germany, by representatives of the Vatican and Lutheran World Federation was the most significant news event involving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1999, said the staff of ELCA News and Information, ELCA Department for Communication.
The news staff provides news about the 5.2-million member church's ministry and activities to the public and church media. Staff includes John R. Brooks, director; Frank F. Imhoff, associate director; Melissa O. Ramirez, associate director; and Brenda G. Williams, editorial assistant for production and media relations.
The Joint Declaration, signed Oct. 31, 1999, was the result of some 30 years of dialogue between Roman Catholic and Lutheran theologians. The document signaled agreement on a single issue that has divided Lutheran and Roman Catholics since the 1500s, the start of the Protestant Reformation.
"The doctrine of justification -- that people are saved by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, and have not done anything on their own to become right with God -- stood at the core of many disputes between Lutherans and Roman Catholics since the 16th century," wrote Imhoff in his report on the signing.
"The role of good works or Christian living is a related issue that Lutherans and Roman Catholics now say -- in the Joint Declaration -- is not church dividing," the report continued. "Roman Catholics hold that good works contribute to growth in grace and that a reward in heaven is promised to these works, according to the declaration. Lutherans emphasize that justification is complete in Christ's saving work and that Christian living is a sign of unmerited love."
"By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works," said the Joint Declaration. Other stories that made the ELCA list of significant news events for 1999 included: + Ecumenical actions of the ELCA: At the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, voting members adopted "full communion" agreements with the Moravian Church and Episcopal Church. The agreements allow for exchange of clergy in congregations under certain circumstances and creates possibilities for shared ministries. The proposal with the Moravian Church was adopted overwhelmingly and is now in effect. The proposal with the Episcopal Church was adopted 716-317, but remains controversial for some ELCA members today. The proposal must be approved by the general convention of the Episcopal Church in July 2000 before it will be in effect. + Continuing discussion of gay/lesbian issues in the ELCA: The church took many actions on this issue in 1999, including release of a Division for Outreach study on welcoming gay and lesbian people in congregations, a report to the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly summarizing the church's activities in this area, the assembly's action to decline to change its standards for rostered clergy in the ELCA, and the ELCA Church Council's decision to seek a feasibility study regarding a possible study on the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian people. + Adoption of "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All, A Social Statement on Economic Life": The 1999 churchwide assembly adopted this wide-ranging statement on a variety of economic issues confronting Christians. It is the basis for the first online "virtual" conference to be held in February 2000 through the ELCA's Web site. + ELCA members surpass $2.5 million mark in "Millions for Mitch" campaign, provide relief in variety of disasters and conflicts: ELCA members were challenged to raise $1 million for relief efforts for Hurricane Mitch, a devastating storm that struck Central America in October 1998. Gifts to this fund far exceeded the goal. ELCA members, through domestic and international disaster response, provided support and funds for a number of disasters, including tornadoes in Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma; earthquakes in Colombia and Turkey; floods in Iowa and Venezuela; and hurricane damage and flooding in North Carolina. Lutherans also aided displaced people because of conflicts in Kosovo and East Timor, and they provided a variety of services to people affected by school shootings in Littleton, Colo. + ELCA Conference of Bishops declines to meet in South Carolina: The ELCA's secretary and 66 bishops adopted a resolution in which they decided to move their spring 2000 meeting from Charleston, S.C., to another location. The bishops' action supported a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) call for a boycott of meetings in South Carolina because the Flag of the Confederacy continued to fly atop the state's Capitol. Some say the flag is a symbol of oppression. The churchwide assembly adopted a resolution supporting the bishops' action, and the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, wrote to South Carolina officials about the church's action. + Women of the ELCA elect new president, adopt anti-racism resolutions: Linda Chinnia, a school administrator from Baltimore, was elected president of Women of the ELCA at the organization's Triennial Convention in St. Louis. Delegates also adopted a series of resolutions aimed at helping the organization achieve its anti-racist vision. + ELCA explores rural crisis, names director: Early in 1999 the Division for Outreach appointed Sandra A. LaBlanc, an ELCA associate in ministry, its rural resources and networking director. Her appointment was a result of ELCA assembly and church council actions in response to the financial crisis in rural America. Slightly more than half of the ELCA's congregations are in rural settings and face a variety of challenges from this ongoing crisis. + ELCA leaders direct funds, attention to ministry with people living in poverty: Bishop Anderson proposed use of reserve funds for ministry with people living in poverty. In April 1999, the ELCA Church Council designated $3 million for this purpose. The ELCA Conference of Bishops later decided to begin work on a pastoral letter on ministry with people living in poverty, likely to be issued in 2000. Anderson has placed considerable emphasis on this ministry for the remainder of his term which ends in 2001. + The Lutheran editor retires; new editor elected, managing editor named: the Rev. Edgar R. Trexler, editor for The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA, retired Oct. 31, 1999, after 34 years with the magazine, including 20 as editor. The churchwide assembly overwhelmingly elected the Rev. David L. Miller, formerly senior editor, to succeed Trexler. Earlier in the year Sonia L. Solomonson was named managing editor of the magazine, moving from her role as senior editor. + ELCA Identity Project developed, in use in many synods: The ELCA Identity Project released a series of broadcast and print advertisements aimed at various audiences to raise attention to the Lutheran church and, in particular, the ELCA. At least 50 of the ELCA's 65 synods are now involved in the Identity Project. Congregations and synods shared $1.2 million in matching grants to support the project. A companion Web site was launched at www.sharingfaith.org. Significant funds for this project were made available by Aid Association for Lutherans, a fraternal benefits organization based in Appleton, Wis., and by the ELCA Church Council.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html