CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (ELCJ), will discuss the present situation of Christians living in the Middle East at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) 2000 Multicultural Mission Institute Nov. 3-5 at The Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Los Angeles.
In the last 30 years, almost 60 percent of the ELCJ membership, especially the young, have emigrated to other Arab-speaking countries and to the United States, according to Younan. Some of the remaining members have lost their homes, without compensation, due to the economic situation and unstable political climate in the Middle East, he said.
The ELCJ has 2,000 members in six congregations in Amman, Jordan; Beit Jala; Beir Sahour; Bethlehem; East Jerusalem; and Ramallah. The ELCJ is the only "indigenous" Lutheran church in the Middle East. In 1974 the church joined the Lutheran World Federation, a global communion of 131 member churches in 72 countries representing 59.5 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans. The ELCA is also a member of LWF.
The theme of the 2000 Multicultural Mission Institute is "Free in the Spirit." Hosted by the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries, the institute is designed to help congregations of the ELCA of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds "reach out to others and experience a multicultural community." Through Bible studies, worship, workshops and speakers, the institute promotes a better understanding of issues related to multicultural ministries; equips and inspires participants for ministries in their settings; builds a multicultural community through dialogue; and strengthens and supports African American, Black, American Indian and Alaska native, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic/Latino congregational ministries.
Workshop topics at the Institute range from the plight of Christians in the Middle East to developing strategies for diverse worship among congregations.
The Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler, assistant to the bishop, ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod, and Lori Claudia, associate director for Latino evangelism and discipleship, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, will also give keynote presentations.
The Rev. Jamie Segaran Bruning, Faith Lutheran Church, Sidney, Mich., will lead Bible studies. Bruning, also a host for a Christian contemporary radio station, will explore the interrelationships of scripture, music and culture.
The Rev. John H. Thomas, president of the United Church of Christ (UCC), Cleveland, will preach at the opening worship. The ELCA and UCC established a "full communion" relationship in 1997. The Rev. Mary Louise Frenchman, a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Nation, will preach at closing worship. Frenchman serves as pastor for Living Waters Lutheran Church, Cherokee, N.C.
The Multicultural Mission Institute is an annual event hosted by the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries. The commission provides advice and assistance to the ELCA's 10,851 congregations, organized into 65 synods throughout the United States and Caribbean, on ministry among people of color and whose primary language is not English. It develops workshops and resources, print and video, to help the church dismantle racism.
Editor's note: Information about the ELCA 2000 Multicultural Mission
Institute can be found on http://www.elca.org/cmm/events.html
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
