INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Support for family farms and a change to their Aug. 9 action on Middle East tensions came Aug. 12 when voting members took action 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 family-farms proposal noted concern about the situation in farm and rural communities and reaffirms a 1999 churchwide assembly action that urged prayer and advocacy for those caught in the family- farm crisis, along with study of the challenges they face.
Other points of this assembly's action commend ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson's initiatives, including "a historic meeting" he held with leaders of three leading farm organizations; and support agreements that came from a "Rural Summit" that the church body convened in March 2000.
Those agreements from the summit call for:
* insuring an adequate worldwide food supply;
* responding to the effects of low commodity pricing;
* providing resources for rural communities;
* providing forums for farmers, ranchers, "and their communities";
* studying farm-related issues aimed at fair legislation;
* emphasizing responsible land usage;
* educating about production and economics; and
* engaging in dialog on rural and farm-life issues.
The proposal also calls for the ELCA Division for Outreach's director for rural ministry and networking to continue ecumenical work and to identify resources.
In a related action Aug. 12, the assembly referred to that division and to the ELCA Church Council a motion made by Leland V. Eilert, a voting member from Minnesota. His motion called for an additional staff person to work with the director for rural ministry and networking.
Two changes to the Aug. 9 assembly action on Middle East tensions add balance to that action, said Jack Sharlier, a voting members from the ELCA's Metropolitan Chicago Synod, who proposed the additions. They request the presiding bishop to send a letter to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, in which he urges that diplomatic pressure be placed on those opposing peace in the Middle East; and acknowledge the pain and suffering of all those involved in Middle East tensions. -- -- --
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
