wfn.org | Anderson Addresses "Initiatives for a New Century"

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 16, 1997

ANDERSON ADDRESSES "INITIATIVES FOR A NEW CENTURY"
97-CA-11-LJG

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- "When society is in a molten state, when
everything is being 'reinvented,' the church has a matchless opportunity to
be engaged in shaping whatever new society will emerge.  Communities that
have a clear purpose and definite goals that will become the crystallization
points for the world of the future," said the Rev. H. George Anderson,
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in his first
report to the assembled body of the ELCA in Philadelphia on Thursday.
Anderson's address received a standing ovation at the fifth biennial
gathering of more than 1,000 voting members and visitors at the Pennsylvania
Convention Center.
     Anderson proposed seven key initiatives from the 5.2 million members of
the ELCA, built upon five foundational strengths that he believes the ELCA
can bring to a world in turmoil and transition.  "This not a cookie cutter,
seven-point program for everyone, but a way to focus creative energy and a
system to share the ideas that are working."
     The seven "Initiatives for a New Century" would be catalysts for the
ELCA to deepen  worship life, teach the faith, witness to God's action in the
world, strengthen one another in mission, help the children, connect with
youth and young adults, and develop leaders for the next century.
     Anderson characterizes the ELCA as a global church; a church of grace
and gratitude; a serving church; a realistic church; and as a teaching
church.  The seven specific initiatives are offered for Assembly approval to
"get us out into mission," Anderson said.
     The initiatives developed over the past three and a half years,
emerging out of the Inquiry process begun during the leadership of the Rev.
Herbert W. Chilstrom former bishop of the ELCA.  The formal listening process
crisscrossed the country, and was continued by Anderson following his
election in 1995.
     "I was struck with the sense of loss that many of our members and
clergy feel," Anderson said of his year and a half of conversations across
the country with Lutheran leaders and individual congregations and church
members.  "The changes of the last decades have been disturbing or
inconvenient for many of us; for others in our society they are devastating.
At the same time, there are possibilities for mission in these changes, and
occasionally they can even be cited as signs of hope."
     Anderson discussed universal issues of rootlessness, increased stress,
marginalization, polarization, and widespread spiritual hunger and how
Lutherans can respond.  "Congregations in rural areas and in urban settings
often discover that they are the only institution left.  The bank's gone, the
store's gone, the school's gone; the church is still there.
     "The church need not be afraid of being pushed to the edge of society.
That is where the church was born.  It is genetically engineered to thrive in
adversity and "tribulation."  It's in the church's DNA.  Or maybe we should
call it DBA -- "Don't Be Afraid," Anderson said.
     The initiatives fit in with all the things Lutherans are already doing,
Anderson stressed.  Using the example of "Connect with youth and young
adults," Anderson said, "Everybody mentions that we need to involve the
younger generation more effectively in the life of the church.  As Lutherans
we have some outstanding successes in our work with youth -- a record 35,000
people gathered in New Orleans for the "River of Hope;" the strong
catechetical tradition which means that almost every young person is given
personal instruction in the basics of the faith; the excellent tradition of
outdoor ministries, where thousands of young people have life-changing
experiences in outdoor settings; and the systems of church colleges and
campus ministries that continue to nurture and challenge students as they
leave high school and go to college."
     "Connect  with youth and younger adults" could mean gathering people
from each of these  activities to a summit meeting where they could be asked
to imagine how these and other activities could work more closely together,
forming a network of support and challenge for young people through age 21.
     "What synergy could we generate?" the bishop asked.  "How about
offering stimulating opportunities that respond to the rising generations
interest in meaningful service?  Could we intentionally develop a whole
database of summer service options?
     "That's what the initiatives aim at: to spotlight an area that needs
immediate attention; to specify a project that would have a multiplier effect
on existing programs; to set realistic goals so we can know what we've
accomplished and when we've accomplished it; and to invite synods,
congregations and other parts of the church to think up their own ways of
contributing to the same goal."
     Three hearings Friday further underscored the catalyst concept
underlying the initiatives, outlined the development of the seven
initiatives, and offered voting members and visitors an opportunity to
comment  and present their own local concerns and situations.
     Anecdotes and issues focussed on ways to energize mission, to recognize
the ongoing  work of congregations,  to reach out for assistance and
inspiration, and to strengthen community among the members and congregations
of the ELCA.
     Kenn Inskeep, director of the ELCA Department for Research and
Evaluation, told those in the  hearings; " We are sensitive to the fact that
people are already doing these things.  We want to hold up what people are
already doing and to link people, using the initiatives to give focus to the
work we do."
     About $1.5 million can be made available to put money into these
initiatives if they are accepted by the assembly Monday afternoon, noted the
Rev. Michael Cooper-White, director of the ELCA Department for Synodical
Relations.  Congregations, synods, and organizations could present proposals
to the churchwide offices to obtain funds to further initiative proposals.
     "We must tell our stories to each other," noted Bishop Donald Parson,
Alaska Synod.

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html