Statement by ELCA Presiding Bishop on Crisis in the Balkans
Like most Americans, I have been distressed by the reports of the evolving crisis in the Balkans. The tragic suffering of the Kosovo Albanians, caused by armed attacks and other forms of violence including "ethnic cleansing" conducted by Yugoslav security forces, compels the international community to respond. I regret that...
ELCA Commits $150,000 to Relieve Crisis in Kosovo
CHICAGO (ELCA) The International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has committed $100,000 to aid the refugee crisis in Kosovo, in addition to an earlier gift of $50,000. The funds were sent through Action by Churches Together (ACT) to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Norwegian Church...
Northeast U.S. ELCA Bishops Support 'Called to Common Mission'
ELCA BISHOPS IN NORTHEAST U.S. PLEDGE SUPPORT OF 'CALLED TO COMMON MISSION' 99-84-JB =20 CHICAGO (ELCA) Seven bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pledged to support a proposal for full communion with The Episcopal Church and said they would "work and advocate" for its adoption at the...
AAL Initiates "Openings" Grant Program
TUCSON (ELCA) -- Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) announced it will allocate $488,000 in grants this year to help targeted Lutheran congregations focus on bringing unchurched people to worship. The pilot program called, "Openings," is rooted in the Church Membership Initiative (CMI), a research project conducted from 1991 to 1997....
Lutherans Rebuild after Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Floods
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- This spring Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), continues to provide financial assistance, pastoral care, resources for children and support for = care-givers to survivors of tornadoes, hurricanes and floods.=20 In Arkansas, a record-setting...
ELCA Will Seek New Leaders Within Ethnic-Specific Communities
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) may be losing as many as 20 to 25 percent of its African American pastors because of retirement in the next few years, according to the Rev. W. Arthur Lewis, Atonement Lutheran Church, Atlanta. "Where are the younger ones? We...
Drug Control Policy Director Meets with ELCA Officials
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Barry R. McCaffrey, a member of President Clinton's cabinet, met with officials of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) here April 6 and urged them to help teach young people to resist illegal drugs and underage tobacco and alcohol use. Since 1996, McCaffrey has been director...
Income for ELCA World Hunger Appeal Exceeds Goal
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Income for the 1998 World Hunger Appeal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) surpassed the previous year's total by more than $700,000. The appeal earned more than $12.5 million in 1998, and $11.8 million in 1997. Members of the ELCA "faithfully supported the day-in and...
ELCA to Consider Proposed Statement on Economic Life
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) here assess economic life today in light of the moral imperative to seek sufficient, sustainable livelihood for all," said a proposed statement the board of the ELCA Division for Church in Society (DCS) approved unanimously when it met...
ELCA Will Model 'Safe Haven for Children' at its 1999 Assembly
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) leadership team for a "Help the Children" initiative will model a "safe haven" for children at the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Denver Aug. 16-22. Safe-haven child-care rooms will be set up for the children of voting members, staff, visitors...
Unglaube Named Director for ELCA Information Technology
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- LaRue Unglaube has been named director of the Department for Information Technology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Unglaube served as a systems analyst from 1988 to1993 and the unit's manager for systems development from 1993 to 1999. She succeeds Kenneth F. Aicher, who recently...
ELCA Seminaries Plan 1999 Commencement Exercises
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The eight seminaries and Texas extension campus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are planning commencement exercises for degree recipients at the close the 1998-1999 academic year. MAY 14 Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. Speaker: The Rev. Darold H. Beekmann, LTSG President Place: Church...
Palestinian Lutherans Reach out to American Partners
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The leader of Lutherans in the Middle East called on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for continued support as his church works for peace between Israelis and Arabs, for the rights of Christians in Jerusalem and for the welfare of the Palestinian people in Israel. "We...
ELCA Sends $50,000 to Aid Kosovo Refugees
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has sent $50,000 to aid refugees displaced by the crisis in Kosovo. The funds were sent through Action by Churches Together (ACT) to Norwegian Church Aid, which is working directly with refugees in and around...
"2000 Congregations" Discussed by Division for Outreach Board
LISLE, Ill. (ELCA) -- The board of the Division for Outreach (DO) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) heard a revised plan to start 2,000 ELCA congregations in 20 years, beginning in 2,000.=20 The plan was discussed at the board's spring meeting here March 11-14. =20 When originally...
Sandra LaBlanc to Staff ELCA's Rural Desk
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Sandra A. LaBlanc, 49, an associate in ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), becomes the church's director for rural ministry resources and networking on May 1. The ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 1997 asked that a "rural desk" be created to coordinate the church's ministries...
Eight ELCA Bishops Announce Support for "Called to Common Mission"
CHICAGO (ELCA) Acknowledging that not everyone in the Evangelical = Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) favors a proposal for full communion = with the Episcopal Church, eight ELCA synod bishops formally announced = they will support the proposal at the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The proposed agreement, "Called to Common...
Board Discusses Hospitality Report
LISLE, Ill. (ELCA)-- The Division for Outreach board of the Evangelica= l Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed a wide range of issues = related to ministry to gay and lesbian people, and board representatives = met informally with other church officials to discuss ordination of homosexuals during = their...
Gay, Lesbian Ministry Report Completed
LISLE, Ill. (ELCA) -- A report from the Division for Outreach board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on congregational ministry with gay and lesbian people will be sent as information to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly through the ELCA Church Council as part of a series of reports...
Board Discusses Hospitality Report - MARGIN CORRECTED
LISLE, Ill. (ELCA)-- The Division for Outreach board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed a wide range of issues related to ministry to gay and lesbian people, and board representatives met informally with other church officials to discuss ordination of homosexuals during their spring meeting here March...
