International Ministries Highlight GME 'Global University'

DECORAH, Iowa (ELCA) -- More than 2,000 participants at this year's Global Mission Events (GMEs) -- annual conferences which highlight the international mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- learned about a variety of church ministries at the "Global University" sessions.
GMEs were held July 13-16 at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash., and July 20-23 at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Both are higher education institutions of the ELCA.
The Global University at each event was a series of nearly 70 workshops led by ELCA staff, clergy, community activists and local volunteers. Workshop subjects included evangelism and outreach in the new century, the global community and church, women's issues, new missionary opportunities, new forms of music in worship, ministry with seafarers, the church's response to the AIDS crisis in Africa, the rural crisis in the United States and world hunger issues.
"AIDS, The State of the Pandemic." Mary Bush said she hoped the recent international conference on HIV/AIDS in Durban, South Africa, would help Americans "rediscover AIDS" and become involved in controlling the disease. Bush, Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn, Wash., is a registered nurse and a member of the ELCA HIV/AIDS Speakers' Bureau. There are 34.3 million AIDS cases worldwide, she said, with more than 24 million in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Prayer is one approach to the epidemic," Bush said. "These are not nameless people that are dying." She urged workshop participants to learn more about HIV/AIDS and join the ELCA Southern Africa Network, an organization that monitors the struggle for justice in southern Africa; to support work with ELCA companion synods dealing with AIDS; and to support local AIDS prevention ministries.
Bush said she and others are available to speak to church groups about HIV/AIDS. The speakers' bureau is administered through the ELCA Division for Church in Society, Chicago, and is supported by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans, a fraternal benefits organization based in Appleton, Wis.
"Being a Welcoming Community to Gay and Lesbian People." Morrey Atkinson, Central Lutheran Church, Seattle, described his experiences in joining a "Reconciling in Christ" congregation, one that reaches out to gay and lesbian people and welcomes their participation.
Central Lutheran "is open and affirming" and is not just a gay or lesbian church, Atkinson said. "'Reconciling' in Christ is part of who we are."
Rick Pribbernow, a Lutheran pastor, not on the ELCA clergy roster, is director of Open Door Ministries, Seattle, an organization that provides consultation for HIV/AIDS and gay and lesbian concerns. Congregations can become Reconciling in Christ congregations by studying the issues, by acting to become Reconciling in Christ, by registering with Lutherans Concerned North America and by publicly stating their position, he said.
"Challenges for the ELCA in the New Century." The Rev. Bonnie Jensen, executive director, ELCA Division for Global Mission, said the ELCA has relationships with 70 churches worldwide. Those relationships have enriched the church, she said. "When we talk about evangelism in the ELCA, we're looking globally for resources," she said.
The Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive director, ELCA Division for Church in Society, said that, of all of the advocacy matters the church addresses, "poverty is at the top of the list." He said the ELCA released $3 million in reserve funds last year for projects to help people living in poverty.
"Developing Primary Health Care for All in the New South Africa." Susan Strasser, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Lafayette Calif., and former nurse in South Africa, discussed the rising death toll in South Africa due to AIDS and other diseases, and the need for reform of that nation's health care system. "I have a lot of hope for transformation of health care. I've heard some tremendous stories of health, but we have to stay focused on the basics," she said.
"Trafficking of Woman and Children in South Asia." Carin Persson, a native of Sweden and an ELCA missionary to India, Indonesia and Thailand for more than 30 years, said girls are bought and sold in the region and are then forced to be prostitutes. "India and Thailand receive women and children from other countries, and are major trafficking points," she said. The alarming rate of trafficking of women and children in South Asia reflects gender inequality, Persson said.
"Russia: Stirring up the Spirit with Soup." The Rev. William P. Swanson and the Rev. Twila K. Schock, pastors at the Moscow (Russia) Protestant Chaplaincy for three years, discussed their soup kitchen ministry that reaches out to the elderly and African university students. "Many elderly people have been hit hard by the economic crash," Schock said. "Many of the students were recruited to study in Russia during the Cold War but cannot return home for various reasons such as not being able to find their family because they are in a refugee camp or some of their families might even be dead. Many of them are stuck," she said. Christ calls us to reach out to people in need, and that's what compels us to do this, Swanson said.
"Corporate Social Responsibility." Trudy Brubaker, ELCA director for corporate social responsibility, Pittsburgh, said through this ministry the ELCA expresses concern about land mines, the environment and equity in the workplace. The corporate responsibility program of the ELCA offers social statements on issues having to do with corporations, Brubaker said.
The corporate social responsibility ministry also provides social/ethical investment criteria and counsel. "It's not my job to tell you what to invest in or not," Brubaker told participants. "I just want to make sure you are aware of certain issues."
"Come to Ethiopia and Meet One of the Fastest Growing Churches in the World." The Rev. Said R. Ailabouni, program director for Europe, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, ELCA Division for Global Mission, Chicago, led a discussion on the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. The church has grown by half a million people in the last two years, Ailabouni said. "Many of the believers there have such pride in their heritage, love for the Lord and have a desire to share the gospel," Ailabouni said. "The church is built on prayer and is very diverse, with many nationalities."
GMEs are sponsored by the ELCA Division for Global Mission in cooperation with local committees, synods of the ELCA and staff of the ELCA churchwide organization. Financial support was contributed by Aid Association for Lutherans, a fraternal benefits organization based in Appleton, Wis., and Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefits organization based in Minneapolis.
In 2001, two GMEs are planned: July 12-15 in Denver and July 19-22 at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa. Susquehanna is an ELCA higher education institution.

[*Michael N. Hoffman is a senior at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. This summer he is an intern with ELCA News and Information.]

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