Lutherans From Around the World Discuss Globalization, Peace

MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- About 2,000 Lutherans from across the country and around the world gathered together this summer to study economic globalization, peace work, public policy and more at the 2004 Global Mission Events (GMEs) hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Under the theme, "Claimed by God's grace for the sake of the world," GME participants reflected on the ELCA's international mission through workshops and seminars -- known as "Global University" -- keynote presentations, conversation with international guests and ELCA mission personnel, worship and music. GMEs were held July 29-Aug. 1 at the Midwest Airlines Center here, and July 15-18 at Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, opened the GME in Milwaukee by expressing gratitude to the church's mission personnel, calling them "God's people claimed for the sake of the world."
About 290 ELCA mission personnel serve in more than 45 countries around the world. Seventy percent of mission personnel are lay people, and 20 percent of mission personnel are under the age of 30. Lutheran churches from around the world invite members of the ELCA to serve as seminary professors, teachers, librarians, counselors, accountants, computer consultants, pastors, and in other roles.
Speaking to the GME theme, Hanson hypothesized a "human dilemma." "We resent and resist the notion of being claimed by others, yet we are driven to lay claim to others," he told participants. "Our resentment to being claimed by others does not seem to drive away our desire to lay claim to others."
Hanson said "those claims are woven throughout history," and he asked participants, "Who's got a claim on you?"
Last year Hanson was elected president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947, the LWF now has 136 member churches in 76 countries, representing 61.7 million of the world's nearly 65.4 million Lutherans.
"I believe that most Americans want to be known as a generous, peace-seeking people. Yet we are perceived as intoxicated with our power ... rather than standing with those [who live] in poverty around the world," Hanson said.
"We are propagandized into a state of fear. Fear hardens life, it closes borders," he said. "Faith frees us. Faith invites us to be engaged in the world. Faith causes us to rejoice, and faith gives us courage to go out into the world. It unites us and sends us," Hanson said.
"To be claimed by God's grace means that life is a gift, not a possession," Hanson said. "God, the giver of life, lays claim on you."

Lutherans in Colombia, India and Liberia Work for Peace
The events also gave special focus to Lutheran peace work around the world. Jenny Neme, a peace activist and staff member of Justapaz, an ecumenical peace organization in Bogota, Colombia, told participants, "Many churches and people, like me ask, 'What is God calling the churches and people to do in Colombia?'"
Neme described the 40-year political violence and human rights violations in Colombia. Of the 43 million people in Colombia, about 3 million have been internally displaced. "Churches are also experiencing violence," she said through an interpreter. At the end of 2003, "40 Protestant church leaders and pastors were assassinated for their peace-making efforts," Neme said.
Churches in the United States "can stand with Colombia, especially when churches in Colombia are threatened with violence," she said. "The people of Colombia need alternatives, not military negotiations, to live with dignity. Peace is a commitment from everyone."
Leymah Gbowee, a member of the Lutheran Church in Liberia and an active leader among Lutheran women working for peace in Liberia, told participants that Liberia is emerging from a 15-year civil war.
"Destruction is vast and many Liberians have been living without electricity for the last 14 years," Gbowee said. "Women have been pushed back physically, mentally and emotionally" and "now we're working for peace," she said. "Today we have a campaign called 'Never Again.' No more violence. We are determined to fashion ourselves and our children to a people unburdened, to support good government" and "work for justice."
In a separate session, the Rev. Chandran Paul Martin, executive secretary, United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, and the Rev. David Pfrimmer, director, Lutheran Office for Public Policy, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, addressed the topic of economic globalization.
In an interview, Martin said the power of economic globalization has only "worked well for a few, very few, in India. Globalization has not addressed the most fundamental issues of poverty, starvation, basic health care, basic education, housing and more." "The world is changing and, of course, [India is] part of the global village. Certainly we don't deny it. But that does not mean that [topics] such as agriculture, employment and health care, should not be addressed. Globalization, in fact, has made life worse for the poor," said Martin.
Jim Goodman, a farmer, shared some of his experiences of farming in Wisconsin, and the Rev. Santiago Rodriguez, a pastor of the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, San Salvador, El Salvador, spoke on the privatization of water in El Salvador.
Daniel Kemmis, director, Center for the Rocky Mountain West, a studies and public policy center at The University of Montana in Missoula, and former mayor of Missoula, spoke on the topic of globalization at the Bozeman event.

Young Adults in Global Mission
At both events four missionaries under the age of 30 shared their experiences of working overseas and how international mission has shaped their lives and vocations.
"If I don't live out my faith, use my gifts, then I don't know what I'm doing. Life doesn't make sense," Tim Barr, Houston, told participants. Barr participated in LWF's International Youth Program, "Transformation Through Participation."
Aaron Chan, a Methodist, served as an "observer" in the West Bank and Gaza under the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel. He described mission work as a "personal faith journey" and "putting theology into practice."
Angela Khabeb, a student at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis., served two years in Namibia as secretary for the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia. She said mission work "is about relationships" and "reaching out to our neighbors." Carthage is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.
Anne Hallman, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, spent a year in the United Kingdom. Hallman said international mission is "about walking together as we find our way home."

Global University Sessions and Teaching Theologians
"Global University" Sessions highlighted the GMEs. Topics ranged from pilgrimages in Africa to prison congregations in the United States, from religious practices and symbols to global trade, and from "post Sept. 11" U.S. border security to maritime ministry.
The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA Division for Global Mission, and the Rev. Richard A. Magnus, executive director, ELCA Division for Outreach, led a workshop called, "Mission: Just Do It." Using stories from the Bible, Malpica Padilla identified key concepts for Lutherans to engage in mission.
"God is on a mission to restore community," he said. "Walk with one another, and as you're walking, listen. Share Scripture, the Word of God, as you're walking and listening. Issue an invitation for fellowship and go forth, witness."
Magnus identified ELCA congregations across the country noted for their ability to "open up and work with other communities." He said a<