wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Acknowledges Ministry in Daily Life

[News News <news@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 21, 1999

ELCA ASSEMBLY ACKNOWLEDGES MINISTRY IN DAILY LIFE
99-CWA-51-FI

     DENVER (ELCA) -- "The priesthood of all believers" is an ancient
Lutheran principle, but it is a matter of daily life for 5.2 million
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  The 1999
ELCA Churchwide Assembly received a progress report focusing the
church's attention on the work of its laity as well as its clergy to
"make Christ known."
     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 1,038 ELCA
voting members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ
Known: Hope for a New Century."
     "Call to Action: Ministry in Daily Life" was a progress report
prepared by the ELCA Division for Ministry and presented to the assembly
by Nelvin Vos, Maxatawny, Pa., who chairs the division's board.
     The progress report focused on a series of recommendations from
the ELCA 1997 Churchwide Assembly to incorporate an emphasis of
"ministry in daily life" in many of the emphases that are usually
reserved for the clergy: decision-making, theological education and the
process of calling people to service in the church.
     Vos said the church's "progress in achieving stated goals"
regarding the work of all ELCA members in ministry was "good."  That
means "we have moved ahead, but there is much more to be done, and the
work is ongoing," he said.
     We are "a people created by God in Christ, empowered by the Holy
Spirit, called and sent to bear witness to God's creative, redeeming and
sanctifying activity in the world," Vos cited the ELCA Constitution's
statement of purpose, emphasizing the last three words -- "in the
world."
     Vos also cited several questions the report posed to help members
of the ELCA "look together at the future of the ministry of the
baptized."  He asked, "How will young people be honored equally as they
discern their vocation, whether called to construction work or public
ministry?"
     Vos asked the voting members, "Monday morning, when you are back
home, how will you participate in and live out your Christian life?"

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