wfn.org | Walter Wangerin Jr. Speaks at Women of the ELCA Convention

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 14, 1996

PEACE IN SCRUBBING FLOORS
96-WO-19-CL

     MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Gales of laughter filled the convention
hall July 13 as the Rev. Walter M. Wangerin Jr. told participants at
the Third Triennial Convention of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America about his experiences scrubbing the kitchen floor.
     A popular storyteller, Wangerin also spoke about his "matron
saint" and mentor for his writing, a sexually abused girl, and a
humorous incident at the airport.
     Wangerin is an author, a columnist for The Lutheran magazine,
speaker for the "Lutheran Vespers" radio program and a professor at
Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind.
     He related his stories to the "Proclaim God's Peace" theme of
the convention held July 11-14 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
     "Peace is more than what society makes it out to be," he said.
Peace is not just the absence of conflict, strife or restlessness.
Peace is wholeness, "to be whole and holy and healthy," he said.
     When his family did not seem to appreciate his floor scrubbing he
felt he had no worth, no name.  People need to feel elevated and
honored, he said.
     "Name the name of those who have no names and so you share joy."
     Lines of women greeted Wangerin, outside the hall where he spoke,
waiting for him to sign his books for them.  Wangerin is the author of
20 books.

     For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955; Lia
Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956