INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) --The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will chair the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis. Anderson highlighted some significant components of the assembly during meetings of the ELCA Church Council and ELCA Conference of Bishops Aug. 7-8 at the Westin Indianapolis Hotel.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide assemblies. The Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly -- the church's highest legislative authority representing the 5.15 million members of the ELCA -- will be held Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. More than 2,000 people -- including 1,040 voting members -- will gather under the theme "Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."
Voting members will elect a presiding bishop. Anderson will complete his six-year term as presiding bishop of the ELCA on Oct. 31. He was elected at the 1995 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis.
"Our process of [electing a bishop] is a healthy one. It will provide the assembly a sense of uniting and working together," Anderson told the council.
In addition to the election of a new presiding bishop, Anderson highlighted several key issues to be presented at the assembly. They are:
+ A report of the church's evangelism strategy and a proposal for a new strategy for the future. There will also be reports on evangelism strategies to reach out to Latinos, and Asian and Pacific Islanders.
+ A proposal will be made that the ELCA be "a partner in mission and dialogue" with Churches Uniting in Christ, a project for greater unity among nine Protestant church bodies.
+ A proposal that calls for support from ELCA congregations for "Stand With Africa: A Campaign of Hope," a three-year campaign coordinated by the ELCA World Hunger Program, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), and Lutheran World Relief, which focuses on issues significant to Africa, including HIV/AIDS, food security, and peace and reconciliation.
+ A report on conversations within the church on human sexuality issues.
"I always think about how we are going to get through [the ELCA Churchwide Assembly]. But, God somehow gets us through and provides many opportunities," Anderson told the council. -- -- -- *Michelle T. Mills is a senior at Bradley University, Peoria, Ill. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News & Information.
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
