CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark. S. Hanson, will be featured on a live Webcast on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m. (Eastern Time), focusing on the future of the ELCA.
The Webcast will take place after the ELCA Synod-Churchwide Consultation "Working Together to Make Christ Known," Oct. 4-6, which will focus on the strategic planning process Hanson initiated for the ELCA.
"The synod-churchwide consultation brings together about 500 people representing all of the 65 synods in the ELCA," said Myrna J. Sheie, executive assistant to the presiding bishop. "The Webcast will give Bishop Hanson the opportunity to do some reporting on the consultation, but it also gives people who were not part of the consultation an opportunity to make their comments and contributions toward the ELCA planning process during that time," said Sheie.
The one-hour Webcast hosted by Melissa Ramirez, host of MOSAIC, the video magazine of the ELCA, will start with a 5-minute video, "Faithful, Yet Changing: 2002 ELCA Synod Assembly Video" featuring Hanson. The bishop will answer questions and respond to comments that have been submitted in advance through the Web site, and will offer reflections about the progress of the ELCA planning process, said Sheie.
More than 70 questions have been received so far and, "most of the questions focus on mission and outreach and issues of sexuality," said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director of the ELCA Department for Communication. "It is because members feel that there is a need for the ELCA to do more mission and outreach," said Shafer.
Concerning the issue of sexuality, he said, "Many members are concerned and worried about the issue of homosexuality, and they wonder what its consequences for the ELCA might be."
The live Webcast offers a chance for members with computer terminals to interact with the bishop, said Shafer. However, Hanson cannot respond to all questions or comments during the Webcast, but every suggestion will be reviewed by the ELCA planning committee.
To watch the live Webcast, viewers need a RealOne Player. A "Live Webcast" link will be available on the ELCA homepage http://www.elca.org or go straight to the ELCA planning Web site at http://www.elca.org/planning.
*Diana Mavunduse is a communicator with the World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland. This fall she is serving as a volunteer with the ELCA News Service.
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
