by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
Members of the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) and an advisory bishop who took part in an
"ecumenical journey" March 13-29 to meet with world church
leaders in Geneva, Istanbul, Rome and London, shared their
impressions about the journey with other members of the council
when they met in Chicago April 1-2. The council is the ELCA's
board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the
church between churchwide assemblies. Assemblies are held every
other year; the next is here Aug. 6-12, 2007.
The ELCA is "a leader in the ecumenical movement," said Faith A.
Ashton, council member, Chapel Hill, N.C. She said her most
vivid memories were of Istanbul and meeting with leaders of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate who continue to exist in a country where
more than 99 percent of the population is Muslim. "Living in (a)
Muslim climate and trying to maintain their Christianity was to
me the most touching," she said.
Jonathan Linman, council member, New York, said he will always
remember standing in the remains of a historic church in Nicaea
and reciting the Nicene Creed with 16 other journey participants.
Linman said the trip helped establish for him "a sense that this
is our church, too, and we have history beyond the 16th century."
The Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Iowa
Synod, Waverly, said: "We realized again that ecumenism is all
about relationships. I am grateful to be a member of this
church. (The trip) communicated to us that the ELCA is a
worldwide leader in helping us to bridge the schisms of the
centuries."
Church Council:
http://www.ELCA.org/secretary/governance/council.html
Istanbul: http://www.ELCA.org/news/releases.asp?a=3333
Rome: http://www.ELCA.org/news/releases.asp?a=3336
Ecumenical Patriarchate: http://www.ec-patr.gr/
Nicene Creed:
http://www.ELCA.org/communication/creeds/nicene.html
ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod: http://neiasynod.org/
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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
