CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) recommended the 2007 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly adopt a resolution designed to affirm the
church's work on renewing its worship life.
The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as
the legislative authority of the church between churchwide
assemblies. It met here April 14-16. Assemblies are held every
other year; the next is here Aug. 6-11.
Released in October 2006, Evangelical Lutheran Worship --
the ELCA and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's (ELCIC) new
primary book of worship -- is an outcome of a project initiated
by the council in 2000 to renew the worship life of the ELCA.
The "Renewing Worship" project invited the 4.85-million-member
ELCA and the 182,077 members of the ELCIC to engage new worship
materials. The ELCIC began its participation in Renewing Worship
in 2001. Evangelical Lutheran Worship is published by Augsburg
Fortress Publishers, Minneapolis, the publishing ministry of the
ELCA.
The resolution to be considered by the 2007 Churchwide
Assembly "applauds" "The Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement
on the Practice of Word and Sacrament" -- a 1997 statement that
contributed to the development of new worship resources. It also
acknowledges the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly actions that
encouraged the Renewing Worship effort, and it conveys
appreciation to members of the ELCIC for their participation.
"The heart of the resolution is to receive with thanksgiving
(Evangelical Lutheran Worship) as the primary worship resource of
our church," said the Rev. Joseph G. Crippen, Northfield, Minn.,
council member, adding that the resolution also commits the
church to the ongoing work of renewing worship.
Worship Jubilee 2007, an event celebrating the renewal of
worship in the ELCA, will take place here Aug. 3-6 at Navy Pier.
Worship Jubilee will feature keynote presentations, worship,
workshops, and educational opportunities for children and adults. Pre-
Jubilee events Aug. 2-3 will include visiting some of Chicago's
churches for "pilgrimage and prayer" on Aug. 3.
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Information about Worship Jubilee 2007 is at
http://www.ELCA.org/worship/jubilee and information about
"Renewing Worship" is at http://www.renewingworship.org on the
Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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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
