CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Cafe: Stirring the Spirit Within" -- a
new online magazine (or e-zine) intended for women ages 20-35 --
was launched Aug. 18 by Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA), the women's organization of the church.
The faith-based e-zine will be issued five times a year,
according to Nancy J. Goldberger, editor, Lutheran Women Today,
the magazine of Women of the ELCA.
Cafe, an acronym for "community, advocacy, faith and
enlightenment," will be delivered electronically to subscribers
via e-mail and will be posted on the Web. Golberger said each
issue is centered on a specific topic with information housed in
four main sections: Hot Topic, Coffee Talk, Tip Jar and Internet
Cafe.
Hot Topic contains the main article complimented by sidebars
of relevant information, Goldberger said. Coffee Talk includes
questions for discussion on the main topic; Tip Jar offers
subscribers a chance to share their thoughts and read what others
have to say about the topic; and Internet Cafe offers related Web
links, articles, books, movies and more, she said.
The first issue focuses on fair-trade chocolate, Goldberger
said. Subscribers will learn how thousands of cocoa farmers
around the world are "unable to earn a sustainable wage and how
our actions or lack thereof fuel this oppression," she said.
The issue highlights the Lutheran World Relief (LWR)
Chocolate Project and other fair-trade activism and projects,
such as "Do Justice: The Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project.
LWR is the overseas relief and development ministry of the ELCA
and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
Future topics for the e-zine include the environment,
finances and sexuality, said Goldberger.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided a grant to fund
Cafe for two years, Goldberger said. Thrivent is a fraternal
benefit organization based in Minneapolis.
Cafe can be accessed online at http://www.elca.org/wo/cafe/ on the
ELCA's Web site.
*Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree at
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. This summer she is an intern
with ELCA News and Media Production.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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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
