INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have started a five-year process that will lead to new worship resources. Participants in the churchwide assembly heard a report Thursday about myriad efforts to deepen worship life in ELCA congregations.
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."
Deepening worship is one of the "Initiatives for a New Century," launched by the ELCA at its 1997 churchwide assembly. Final reports on each of the seven initiatives will be presented at this assembly.
The Rev. Michael Burk, recently named ELCA director for worship, said part of the initiative is starting the five-year campaign called "Renewing Worship." It could result in a new hymnal or electronic resources, Burk said. "This process and the resources that grow out of it will shape worship in the ELCA for years to come," he said.
Resources developed will represent the ELCA's diversity and reflect common Lutheran beliefs, he said. Burk urged congregations to test and respond to new resources, to help the church grow. "By renewing worship the whole church will be renewed," he said.
The Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director of the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, said the worship initiative called upon ELCA members to explore what they valued. Resources developed include "YOUth CAN -- Worship Leadership in Camps and Congregations" and "God is Here -- Video Reflections on Worship in the ELCA."
ELCA worship staff also developed resources for adult catechism and a leadership program for musicians in small congregations.
The "Deepen our Worship Life" initiative team sponsored "Worship Jubilee 2000" last July. The event, held at Navy Pier in Chicago, included seminars exploring different styles of worship. More than 375 ELCA congregations were represented at the event. -- -- --
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
- - -
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
