by Annie Lynsen, ELCA Washington Office
More than 8,500 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) were among the 110,332 U.S. citizens and 23.5
million people worldwide who stood up during worship Oct. 15 to
fight global poverty. The "STAND UP" event set a national and
global record in the Guinness World Records for the largest
number of people to stand up for a cause.
Lutherans across the United States participated in the event
organized as part of "ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History,"
in cooperation with the United Nations' Millennium Campaign.
People stood together to ask their governments to take action to
end poverty and inequality and meet the Millennium Development
Goals. "Participation of Lutheran congregations in the STAND UP
event reflects the new energy and commitment that the ONE
Lutheran Campaign has generated at the local level. Our
commitment as Lutherans to fighting poverty and disease in the
world is part of a global movement with a common goal to end the
scandal of poverty that kills," said Kim C. Stietz, ONE Lutheran
Campaign coordinator, ELCA Washington Office.
More than 400 people stood up at Christ the King Lutheran Church
in Houston, and 250 stood up at Redeemer Lutheran Church in
Hinsdale, Ill. Around the world, Lutherans and members of other
faith traditions also organized STAND UP events. At Solor
Lutheran Church in Webster, Minn., 52 people stood for a moment
during worship, 14 of whom participated in a house party later
that day. "At the house party, we called our representative, our
senators, and our candidates and left messages asking what
they've done or what they plan to do about hunger and the
Millennium Development Goals," said Carrie Young, a member of
Solor Lutheran Church. "We also watched the ELCA World Hunger
Video, 'For Such a Time as This,' and we talked about the ONE
Campaign." ONE Lutherans across the country joined with other
volunteers, students and community members as a part of this
movement.
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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
