CHICAGO (ELCA) "Dialogando en Conjunto como Cristianos" (Talking Together as Christians) is a new Spanish-language resource designed for Latino congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to talk together about difficult ethical and social issues.
The resource "presents a process which helps Latino Christians deal with issues they think are important to their life in a way that tries to be sensitive to their culture," said the Rev. Ronald W. Duty, assistant director for studies, ELCA Division for Church in Society.
"It guides Latino Christian ministries through the various steps needed to have good conversation together after they realize they need to talk about an issue," Duty said.
The 37-page, soft-bound resource contains chapters on how congregations can form leadership and planning teams, invite people to talk together, lead the actual conversations, and make decisions on how groups can take action together.
"When we talk together in unity as Christians, the Holy Spirit is active in the lives of our Christian communities, guiding them to faithful witness and service as the people of God," Duty said.
The resource was produced by the ELCA Division for Church in Society. The division also created "Talking Together as Christians About Tough Social Issues," a congregational deliberation guide and moral deliberation training program launched in 1999.
Dialogando en Conjunto como Cristianos was first used with members of Latino ministries at an ELCA training event, "Ocupandonos de asuntos deficiles" (Engaging Tough Issues), Oct. 6-8, 2000, Duty said.
The event featured three different workshop tracks two in English and one in Spanish that addressed "talking about tough issues, organizing and acting together as Christian congregations and ministries for witness to God's action in the world."
In 1997 the ELCA designated "Initiatives for a New Century," significant areas of ministry for the new century. Leadership teams were formed in 1998 to provide overall guidance for the work of congregations, synods and the churchwide organization on each of the initiatives.
The leadership team "Witness to God's Action in the World: Moral Deliberation and Community Renewal" organized the "Engaging Tough Issues" workshop around three goals: + Learn helpful ways to talk together as Christians about tough ethical or social issues facing congregations or ministries as a process for discerning the Spirit together in local settings. + Develop new skills for faith-based organizing and action to talk about and address tough issues or conditions challenging ministries or communities. + Grow in the capacity to witness to God's action when dealing with tough ethical and social issues in congregations, ministries or communities. -- -- --
For a copy of "Dialogando en Conjunto como Cristianos" contact Augsburg Fortress Publishers (AFP) at (800) 328-4648. AFP, based in Minneapolis, is the publishing house of the ELCA.
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
