wfn.org | Lutherans Concerned Biennial Gathering

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

NEWSBRIEF

July 30, 1996

LUTHERANS CONCERNED

Assembly '96, the biennial gathering of Lutherans Concerned/North
America, met July 12-14 at the University of California at
Berkeley.  About 200 lay people and clergy from the United States
and Canada gathered.  Bishop John Shelby Spong of the Episcopal
Diocese of Newark, N.J., was the keynote speaker.  The assembly
reflected the devastation felt by so many because of the loss of
friends and loved ones to AIDS, said the Rev. James Lokken, St.
Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco.  At a liturgy of healing
participants had an opportunity to sing, to mourn and to write on
a scroll the names of those lost to AIDS.  Business sessions of
the assembly heard reports, elected officers and adopted
resolutions.  The assembly highlighted three priorities:
increasing the number of Reconciled in Christ congregations
openly welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
individuals and couples into full participation; advocating the
legitimization of same-sex unions; and seeking to change church
policies that now exclude non-celibate gay and lesbian persons
from ordination.  Lutherans Concerned was founded 22 years ago.

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