by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
The Task Force on Education of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) met Oct. 22-23 in Chicago to review responses
concerning "Our Calling in Education: A First Draft of a Social
Statement." Issued by ELCA Church in Society, the 63-page
document was made available to the church for study and response
prior to Oct. 15. Since March, 48 hearings were held in 40 of
the 65 synods of the ELCA.
"The purpose of the (task force) meeting was to review the
reports from public hearings on the draft social statement as
well as personal comments that have been received. We discussed
ways in which the comments and suggestions might strengthen or
alter the document. Various research and writing assignments
were agreed upon as we initiate work on the final draft of the
statement," said Paul J. Dovre, former president, Concordia
College, Moorhead, Minn., and task force co-chair. "The task
force senses strong interest in and support for the document," he
said.
The task force will develop its final version of a proposed
social statement on education by early 2007 for consideration by
the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Aug. 6-12, 2007 in Chicago.
Adopted by ELCA churchwide assemblies, social statements are
social policy documents that address significant social issues.
The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly called for a social statement
on education. The task force, first assembled in 2003, produced
an 82-page booklet, "Our Calling in Education: A Lutheran Study"
to assist the church in its study of the issues throughout 2005.
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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
