ELCA Assembly Adopts Education Social Statement

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted, by a vote
of 949 to 35, a social statement on education addressing issues
of children's faith formation, quality of U.S. public schools,
and support for Lutheran schools and campus ministries Aug. 10.
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 1,069 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
"Lutherans are called to provide excellent education in the
faith, in the home, and in the family. This statement renews that
call," said Paul J. Dovre, co-chair of the task force who
developed the statement. "Lutherans are called to support
Lutheran schools, public schools, Lutheran universities, public
universities, as major avenues of opportunities for young people
and as major forums in which we can serve and achieve the common
good."
The education social statement, titled "Our Calling in
Education," and its accompanying implementation actions, do the
following:
+ Affirm the church's calling to communicate the faith to
children and youth at home and in the congregation;
+ Commit the church to advocate for equitable access to
excellent education for all young people;
+ Commit the church to sustain and strengthen its early
childhood education centers, schools, colleges and universities,
and seminaries; and
+ Support public colleges and universities and affirms the
presence of ELCA campus ministries on those campuses.
"This social statement helps us embrace our church as a
teaching and learning church, challenges us to educate all
generations in the faith, and live out our baptismal callings,"
said Christi Lines, task force co-chair.
Several amendments were made to the proposed document before
it was adopted by the assembly, including the addition of
language throughout the statement to specifically address the
needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian
communities and students with disabilities.
Social statements are major documents adopted by the ELCA
Churchwide Assembly that address significant social issues. "Our
Calling in Education" is the ninth social statement to be adopted
by the ELCA. Social statements on sexuality and genetics are
currently in development and are expected to come before the 2009
and 2011 churchwide assemblies, respectively.
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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