INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Dr. Marion Best, vice moderator of the governing body of the World Council of Churches (WCC), brought greetings Aug.10, from that body to the ELCA churchwide assembly. The WCC represents 400 million members in 342 churches in 128 countries, and the ELCA is a member.
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."
"I echo John Bluck who says, 'What being in the global ecumenical movement amounts to is a commitment to constantly stand outside your comfort zone, in between the inherited certainties of creed and culture, to listen carefully to and sometimes absorb the cries of the angry and dispossessed, to learn to live with the contradiction of seeing people who have nothing compared to you in material terms, and yet are often richer and wiser about life and much clearer about God'" said Best.
Best reported that "changes have had a considerable impact on the WCC;" including: + Nearly two-thirds of the founding churches of the WCC were from
Europe and North America; today two-thirds of the churches are
from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Pacific and
Middle East. + The Roman Catholic Church formerly maintained distance from the
ecumenical movement and is now a full member of many national
councils and has regular working relationships with the WCC. + Twenty-one Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches have become
members of WCC, but recent withdrawal of two and the threatened
withdrawal of others has led to a three-year consultation on
Orthodox participation in the WCC. + Increased participation of women in the life and work of the WCC
has changed much of the agenda and style of working in the
organization. + Rapid rise of indigenous, independent churches, especially in
Africa and Latin America has resulted in the recovery of
indigenous spirituality in every part of the world.
At the Harare Assembly in 1998, the WCC declared a Decade to Overcome Violence: 2001-2010. Violence is defined as physical, emotional, intellectual and structural. Socio-economic issues, sexism, racism and violence against creation will be addressed. The focus will be on the response to and prevention of forms of violence found between and within nations, in political structures, in local communities, in the church and in homes and families. WCC seeks to share the resources and experiences of member churches, many of whom are already engaged in peace and reconciliation initiatives.
Best continued, "Christ prayed, calling us into visible unity. It is commendable that the ELCA is in full communion partnership with five U.S. churches and at this assembly are considering becoming a partner in mission and dialogue with Churches Uniting in Christ. May God bless you richly in your continuing ecumenical journeys." -- -- --
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
