wfn.org | ELCA Council Supports Nobel Peace Prize Laureates' Appeal

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 16, 1999

ELCA COUNCIL SUPPORTS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATES' APPEAL
99-15-101-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA)  -- Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have issued an
appeal for the General Assembly of the United Nations to declare a
"Decade of Nonviolence (2000-2010)" and for the year 2000 to be declared
the "Year of Education for Nonviolence" with a special emphasis on
children and youth.  The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) will work to support the appeal.
     The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the
legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies.  The
council met here April 9-12.  Assemblies are held every other year; the
next is August 16-22 in Denver.
     The Church Council will encourage congregations of the ELCA and
church-related schools, institutions and agencies "to teach, practice
and model nonviolence, both for their own members and in service to
their communities" by making use of resources on nonviolence.
     Churchwide units will help identify strategic ways through which
adult and youth leaders might learn the "elements of active nonviolent
peacemaking and serve effectively in support of victims of violence in
their efforts to achieve wholeness, self-respect and peace."
     The request for the Church Council to support the appeal came from
the ELCA Commission for Women.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html