CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Six keynote speakers and hundreds of people from around the world got together on the World Wide Web in February to discuss "Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All," a social statement on economic life which the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted in 1999. "For the Love of Money: Living Faithfully in the Midst of Plenty" was a "virtual conference" sponsored by the Faith and Life Forum of the ELCA at http://www.faithandlifeforum.org/.
"There were some 300 people from around the world logged in to this month-long virtual forum having to do with the ELCA's economic life social statement," said Kevin J. Boatright, Madison, Wis., chair of the ELCA Division for Ministry board. "We were very impressed by the participation," he said. "I assume we will do something like it again."
The Rev. Karen L. Bloomquist, ELCA director for studies, said the social statement "lays out some basic theological grounding, and the tensions this evokes for us as Christians as we engage in economic life. It is intended to undergird the kind of discussion envisioned for this online forum."
The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, welcomed participants to the Web site. "I am very pleased that you are interested in joining the conversation on 'Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All.' It has the potential of becoming one of the most important foundational statements of this church, but only if its assumptions are tested and its implications taken seriously," he said.
Established in 1984 as the Lutheran Academy, the Faith and Life Forum builds on the biblical and Lutheran emphasis on every vocation being a Christian ministry. Its purpose is to provide opportunities for study and discussion within a framework of ethical and theological perspectives, so people can carry out their ministries in daily life as informed, responsible and committed people of God.
The month began with a daily focus on each address of the six keynote speakers: Dr. Tanga Morae McDaniel, research fellow, Department of Applied Economics, University of Cambridge, England; Laura McKnight, homemaker and freelance writer, Oswego, Ill.; Gary Moore, counsel to religious investors and founder of Gary Moore & Co., Sarasota, Fla.; Dr. Larry L. Rasmussen, professor of social ethics, Union Theological Seminary, New York; Stephen P. Slice, farm loan specialist, Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Columbia, S.C.; and Danielle Welliever, director, Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington, Tacoma, Wash.
Online participants engaged in live "chats" with McDaniel, McKnight, Rasmussen, Slice and Welliever. A "WebBoard" allowed participants to continue the conversation through the remainder of the month, and keynote speakers provided closing remarks.
[Editors: Transcripts of select "chats," as well as keynote, "WebBoard"
and closing remarks are available at http://www.faithandlifeforum.org/.]
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
