ELCA Assembly Greeted By Host Bishop

CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Recalling the monikers and voting practices
that have been applied to this city over the years, the bishop of
the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, the host of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly, welcomed
those attending in brief remarks at the end of the assembly's
Aug. 6 opening session.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall.
About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,071 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
The Rev. Paul R. Landahl, who leaves office Aug. 31 as
bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod, noted that Frank
Sinatra crooned about "that toddlin' town" and that it was
politicians -- not meteorological phenomena -- whose speeches gave
Chicago its "Windy City" nickname and their supporters
contributed to its infamous voting practices.
Landahl, who said he was born and raised in Chicago, also
invited assembly attendees to see as much of "our beautiful city"
as their time here this week would allow.
He asked them to note parallels between the church body and
the synod, whose mission statement is "In Jesus' name, proclaim
the gospel, make disciples, [and] do justice.
"My prayer is that God will richly bless our time together
as we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ together," Landahl told
those gathered at Festival Hall.
Landahl and the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop,
called leaders of local-arrangement committees to the stage and
thanked them and other volunteers for their work in preparation
for and during this week's assembly, which applauded their
efforts.
Hanson noted that he had been reminded of "the enormous
amount of planning" on the part of "hundreds of volunteers" since
first learning of the need for local volunteers via announcements
first made "some time ago" at the Chicago congregation where he
is a member.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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