CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed a resolution
Aug. 8 calling for a churchwide strategy for responding to HIV
and AIDS to build on and deepen current denominational engagement
with the pandemic in the U.S. and around the world.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, met here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About
2,000 people participated, including 1,069 ELCA voting members.
The theme for the biennial assembly was "Living in God's Amazing
Grace: Thanks be to God!"
"Someone once said, 'Half of the body of Christ is dying of
AIDS, and the other half doesn't care,'" said the Rev. Rebecca S.
Larson, executive director, ELCA Church in Society. "This is a
clear demonstration that the ELCA does care, and will respond,
and is committed to doing that in a sustained way over time."
The resolution requesting the strategy, passed by a vote of
925 to 22, urges further prayer, charity, advocacy, and education
efforts to fight the pandemic. The ELCA has committed $1 million
to be used for the strategy's implementation and the Lutheran
World Federation's efforts fighting HIV and AIDS worldwide.
Two voting members expressed concerns that the proposal
lacked sufficient financial support, and a resolution was passed
Aug. 11 by a vote of 586 to 13, encouraging the ELCA Church
Council to commit up to an additional $1 million to the
implementation of the strategy.
"I'd like to challenge the Church Council to find some
additional monies so that we can continue to implement this,"
said the Rev. Paul W. Stumme-Diers, bishop, ELCA Greater
Milwaukee Synod, who offered the resolution for additional
financial support to the project. Stumme-Diers said additional
funding would allow the church to better "leverage the hearts and
minds and compassion of our members in our congregations."
The strategy would build on current ELCA efforts to combat
HIV and AIDS, which include the "Stand with Africa" campaign and
advocacy efforts surrounding the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs). The "Stand with Africa" campaign, launched in 2001 and
reaffirmed in 2004, makes the AIDS pandemic in Africa an ongoing
emphasis for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Advocacy efforts
surrounding the MDGs, eight interrelated targets for the
elimination of extreme global poverty by 2015, include a focus on
combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA
Global Mission, said the development of a comprehensive strategy
would "bring together all the sectors within the church that are
actively engaged in HIV and AIDS," including congregations,
synods, the churchwide organization, the church's global and
ecumenical partners, and Lutheran partner organizations.
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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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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
