ELCA Assembly Adopts First Five Memorials

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- A memorial about Israeli-Palestinian relations drew the most discussion when voting members adopted five memorials Aug. 9 at the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. There are more than 2,000 people participating, including 1,040 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."
The five memorials are the first to be approved. They are among eight individual recommendations resulting from actions of ELCA synods that met since the last churchwide assembly. Other such synod recommendations will be considered via an "en bloc"vote. However, voting members may request that individual items in the "en bloc" memorial receive separate consideration. In all, synods recommended 131 memorials for action by the assembly.
Concern for balance in placing responsibility for tensions with Israelis or Palestinians was the main issue in discussion of the memorial that affirms "concern ... over continued U.S. aid to Israel" and asks the ELCA presiding bishop to send a letter to U.S. government officials elaborating four related points.
Voting members adopted an amendment offered by Michelle Martin of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod that adds a point calling for Palestinian military to end suicide bombings. That approval came after a measure was defeated that would have removed a point "urging the immediate international protection of Palestinian populations under [Israeli] occupation."
The memorial also encourages prayer for peace in the Mideast, including an "ecumenical prayer vigil"; urges support for those "in the region affected by strife"; affirms the work of the ELCA's Division for Global Mission and Division for Church in Society in efforts to organize more ecumenical response to the crisis; and commends Middle Eastern Lutherans for their efforts for peace and aid for those caught in the crisis.
Other memorials adopted Aug. 9:
* recognize anniversaries of ELCA congregations, particularly that of the 335-year-old Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands -- the second oldest among all ELCA congregations.
* call for immediate cessation of United States Naval operations on Vieques, an island eight miles east of Puerto Rico. The action also directs the ELCA's Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs to advocate that cessation, as well as decontamination of the island from effects of bombs and other ordinance, and "prompt return of the island to its people." It also calls for a status report at the 2003 churchwide assembly.
* endorse and encourage use of the Birmingham Pledge in efforts to overcome racism. Individuals and groups signing the pledge (written in 1998) affirm worth, dignity and respect for all, and promise to work toward ending racism. Among the pledge's signatories are Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Bill Clinton.
* encourage ELCA members to help develop a social statement on health and health care, which is expected to be available next year.
The memorials committee also presented a memorial addressing the family-farm crisis. However, it must go back to the committee, because a voting member's amendment to add a churchwide staff member to the rural desk requires budget approval. There is currently one such staff member.
The Rev. Karen S. Parker, co-chair of the memorials committee, told the assembly that voting members have requested that "quite a group" of "en bloc" memorials be considered as individual memorials.

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Information about assembly actions is at http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site. Recorded updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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