wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Opens Discussion on Economic Life Statement

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 17, 1999

ELCA ASSEMBLY OPENS DISCUSSION ON ECONOMIC LIFE STATEMENT
99-CWA-13-LJG

     DENVER (ELCA) -- "My hope is that you will not only vote on this
social statement, but more so, that you will use this statement in your
congregations, social ministry, Sunday schools, and in your private
homes when you struggle with the commercialism of Christmas this year,"
said the Rev. Gladys G. Moore to the voting members of the ELCA
Churchwide Assembly, here Aug. 17.  Moore, assistant to the bishop for
the ELCA New Jersey Synod, was one of four presenters from the 15-member
task force that helped write the proposed social statement "Sufficient,
Sustainable Livelihood for All: A Social Statement on Economic Life."
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting Aug. 16-22 here at the Colorado Convention Center.
There are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA
voting members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ
Known: Hope for a New Century."
     "The tears of farmers in South Dakota, finance leaders who shared
a sense of captivity to global economy, despairing workers downsized out
of their livelihood --  those and others were very present as we worked
on this statement," said the Rev. Karen L. Bloomquist, ELCA director for
studies.
     Voting members are expected to vote on the proposed social
statement
Aug. 20.  A two-thirds vote is required to adopt a social statement.
Hearings on the social statement take place Aug. 17.
     The proposed social statement describes itself as a way to "assess
economic life today in light of the moral imperative to seek sufficient,
sustainable livelihood for all."
     The task force revised the first draft of the economic statement
to integrate biblical and theological understandings, and to be more
prophetic in tone.
     Earlier this year, Dr. Annette Citzler, chair of the ELCA Task
Force on Economic Life, stated, "The first draft was more oriented
toward telling how the economy functions.  This document says more of
what our faith is calling us to do in the world about economic life and
about economic issues."
     Two members of the current task force did not sign the statement,
Citzler said.
     The current draft took into consideration almost 2,000 suggestions
in 500 written responses from individuals and groups across the United
States and Caribbean.  About 500 Lutherans attended 75 "listening posts"
in 20 regions of the church in 1994 when the process of developing this
statement began, and a similar number went to 22 hearings on the
documents first draft in the Fall 1998.  A large number of other
consultants provided input as the study document was being developed in
1995 and 1996.
     The resolution to adopt the social statement: calls Lutherans to
work for sufficient livelihood for everyone and increase their giving to
the ELCA's hunger relief programs, encourages the various ministries and
institutions of the church to work for economic justice, directs the
units of the church "to review and adjust their programs and practices
in light of this social statement," and asks the church's educational
institutions "to develop programs and educational resources in light of
this statement so people can be better prepared to respond to the
challenges of economic life."
     The proposed statement devotes sections to explain the title: For
All: Especially Those Living in Poverty; Livelihood: Vocation, Work and
Human Dignity; Sufficiency: Enough But not Too Much; and Sustainability
of the Environment, Agriculture, and Low Income Communities.
     Each section includes actions to which "we commit ourselves as a
church" and actions "we call for in the wider society."
     Since the ELCA was formed in 1988, it has adopted a foundational
statement on the church in society and social statements on abortion,
the death penalty, the environment, peace and racism.

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