INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Evangelism and ministry with the poor are unfinished tasks facing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson in his report to the churchwide assembly. It was his final report as presiding bishop, as a new ELCA bishop will be elected at the assembly later this week.
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."
Reaching out to others is an ongoing challenge for the ELCA, Anderson said. "Our efforts in evangelism have not kept pace with the growing and diversifying population around us," said the bishop.
Church members have made progress through innovative methods, he said. The "Identity Project" has helped the ELCA gain national name recognition and the "Call to Discipleship" has invited people to worship. But more outreach is necessary, Anderson said.
Ministry with people in poverty is the second area of unfinished business, Anderson said. While gifts to World Hunger and other programs for the poor have increased, ELCA members must build on that foundation, he said.
"It is time to start constructing a house, a place for living together, a place where we meet and learn to respect the people we are trying to help," Anderson said.
Lutherans must minister with people in poverty, not to them, and see things from their point of view, Anderson said.
The Christian church is a "work in progress," the bishop said. "Although this church still has unfinished business in the areas of evangelism and the health of society, we have been blessed with some powerful gifts to accomplish it."
Congregations are experimenting with and agreeing on new styles of worship and working together with full communion partners like the Episcopal Church, Anderson said.
In addition, Lutherans have set new records for financial giving. For example, annual gifts to World Hunger that had hovered around $12 million in recent years have risen to $16 million, Anderson said, with an eventual goal of $25 million.
ELCA members have also made progress in identifying and developing leaders for ordained and lay ministries, the bishop said.
Reflecting on this assembly, Anderson encouraged participants to have patience as voting members struggle with tough issues. The voting members will consider resolutions dealing with the ELCA's full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church and policies regarding gays and lesbians.
The Christian church has a history of conflict, said the bishop. "I believe it is natural for a living church to be in constant tension. Tension represents the double commitment to being both faithful and relevant."
It is crucial that members put love above their differences, he said. -- -- --
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
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
