ELCA Lutherans are Making Christ Known
PITTSBURGH (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America willexplore how it will transform its congregations into vital faith communities through 21st century media and with a warm welcome. About 850 clergy and lay leaders gathered here for "Making Christ Known: Congregations for the 21st Century," Nov. 21-23. "Our world...
Stephen Carter Speaks to ELCA Lutherans
"God doesn't want us to live our faith just for ourselves. God wants us to share with the world how different we are because of our Christian faith," constitutional scholar and best-selling author Dr. Stephen L. Carter told leaders gathered for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's "Making Christ Known"...
Women of the ELCA Head Meets with Clinton
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- Catherine I.H. Braasch, executive director of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, discussed President Bill Clinton's racial initiatives at a White House breakfast Nov. 20, together with other religious leaders. "In the coming year the president wants to discover the best ways to address...
Martin Marty to Head Concordat Writing Team
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Martin E. Marty, Chicago, will head up the writing team that will undertake a revision of the "Concordat of Agreement," on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Also on the team authorized by the ELCA Church Council are the Rev. Todd W. Nichol,...
ELCA Joins Global Debt Reduction Effort
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will participate in the "Jubilee/USA Campaign" based on action taken the ELCA Church Council at its meeting here Nov. 14-16. "Jubilee 2000 is a worldwide grassroots movement aimed at creating a fresh start for impoverished nations as our world enters a...
ELCA Worship Team Plans for Future
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The mission of the worship team of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is to "lead, encourage and support the worship of God" in the church, the Rev. Paul R. Nelson, director for worship, told members of the ELCA's Church Council. The council heard the worship plan...
ELCA Church Council Approves 1998-99 Budget
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting here Nov. 14-16, approved the church's 1998 fiscal-year spending authorization of $77.5 million. The council also approved an initial Mission Operating Fund allocation of $1 million; an Expanded Ministry Fund of $200,000; and a 1998 World...
ELCA Undertakes Identity Campaign
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting here Nov. 14-16, endorsed a new emblem and a theme line, "Living Faith," that will be featured in a coordinated identity program. Over the next 12 months the church will design a marketing and identity campaign,...
ELCA Council: Rework the Concordat
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting here Nov. 14-16, asked the presiding bishops of the ELCA and The Episcopal Church to rework the "Concordat of Agreement." The council's goal is to have a draft document ready to show the ELCA's spring synod...
Aids Challenges the Spirit, Lutherans Told
SEACAUCUS, N.J. (ELCA) -- Lutherans have the theological and pastoral resources to attack the problems presented by the HIV virus, said two noted theologians addressing the fifth North American Conference on Aids Nov.6-8. But an African Lutheran theologian told conference participants that the disease is spreading wildly on that continent...
Lutherans Affirms Multicultural Mission
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America must "hear one more time what God has in store for us as we become a more multicultural church," according to the Rev. Frederick E.N. Rajan, executive director of the ELCA's Commission for Multicultural Ministries. Speaking to more than 300...
Inter-Lutheran Aids Network Organizes
SEACAUCUS, N.J. (ELCA) -- An inter-Lutheran network of individuals and agencies involved in ministries supporting people affected by the HIV virus and AIDS was officially organized here Nov. 6, eight years after an informal group of Lutherans began meeting around the subject of spiritual and medical care for AIDS patients....
ELCA Board Studies 'Accompaniment'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Board of the Division for Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America discussed future planning at its meeting here Oct. 23-25. The jumping-off point for conversation was a paper entitled, "Accompaniment of God's Mission: A New Paradigm for Global Mission in the 21st Century."...
ELCA Global Staff at Work in Russia
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Two missionaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America work providing food to the hungry in Russia through the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy. The Revs. Twila K. Schock and William P. Swanson arrived in Moscow in October to work in the ecumenical and intercultural congregation of Protestant Christians....
Year of Prayer for ELCA Lutheran Youth
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Lutheran Youth Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will pray with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community "in our home, church and world." The LYO board, meeting here Oct. 31-Nov. 2, acted to establish "A Year of Prayer," a year-long prayer emphasis for...
Women of the ELCA Move Foward with Anti-Racism Commitment
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Has Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church made an effective start at becoming an anti-racist organization? "It's too early to tell," said Inez Torres Davis, program director for anti-racism and cross-cultural programming. "Anti-racism is not like littering; it is not a behavior to be changed. We...
ELCA'S Commission for Women Tackle Church and Societal Issues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- =22The past six months have probably been the most = hectic, creative, overwhelming, meaningful, and inspirational time in the = history of the commission,=22 said Joanne Chadwick, executive director for = the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America=27s Commission for Women. = =22The commission has responded to issues...
New Plans for ELCA Youth and Social Ministries
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The youth ministries team of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will work to "offer hope and promise" for youth and young adults in the church based on a new plan. The board of the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries "affirmed" the team's plan when it met...
ELCA Members Celebrate Land Mine Treaty
POSTERS AGAINST LAND MINES Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have been invited to celebrate the signing of the antipersonnel land mine treaty and 1997 Nobel Peace Prize by taking part in a poster contest sponsored by the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines. The ELCA's Lutheran Office...
ELCA College Receives Largest Gift in its History
MUHLENBERG COLLEGE RECEIVES LARGEST GIFT IN ITS HISTORY Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., received a $6.5 million gift from a friend of the college. Muhlenberg is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The gift is the largest in Muhlenberg's history and one of the...
