wfn.org | ELCA Ethnic Ministries Are Active in Church and Society

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 20, 1999

ELCA ETHNIC MINISTRIES ARE ACTIVE IN CHURCH AND SOCIETY
99-252-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The steering committee of the Commission for
Multicultural Ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), at its meeting here Oct. 8-9, heard about the ministries of five
ethnic communities in the life of the church and society.  The ELCA's
ethnic ministries are African American and Black, American Indian and
Alaska Native, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander and
Hispanic.

AFRICAN AMERICAN AND BLACK MINISTRIES
     The steering committee endorsed several objectives that emerged
from "The Blood that Unites the Diaspora: A Consultation of Black
Peoples" held June 4-7, 1998, at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.
More than 300 Black Christians attended the consultation hosted by the
ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries, other churchwide units and
local ecumenical groups.
     The objectives recommended by the committee include helping the
ELCA in its understanding of the "diaspora," the breaking up and
scattering of people far from their ancestral homeland; establishing a
"reliable census" on the growing number of Africans and other Black
immigrants in the United States and the ELCA; assisting the church in
becoming more sensitive to the needs and concerns of Africans and other
Blacks in the diaspora; and helping to create a climate of advocacy
relative to racism and immigration.
     "The general purpose was to identify common concerns and needs
within the global Black community, and to seek collaborative ways to
redress those matters within the context of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America," said the Rev. Eric T. Campbell, ELCA director for
African American and Black ministries.
     Campbell highlighted the African American and Black Lutheran
Rostered Leadership Summit held here June 21-23.  The summit brought
together more than 150 Black leaders and clergy from across the country
to discuss issues confronting the Black community.  Campbell also
provided information on the Seventh Biennial Convention of the African
American Lutheran Association held here June 23-26.

AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE MINISTRIES
     Marilyn Sorensen-Bush, ELCA director for American Indian and
Alaska Native ministries, presented a paper June 21 to 35 members of the
U.S. Congress on why the church is called to be in partnership with
American Indian and Alaska Native people, and to be an advocate on
sovereignty issues and other legislation affecting tribes.
     "One needs to understand that American Indian and Alaska Native
people have a unique relationship with the U.S. government," said
Sorensen-Bush.  "So much of the Indian life is governed by treaties with
the U.S. government.  The church's ministry is of advocacy and
information."
     "Christianity once had a message of dignity for all men and women.
At what point can we, as Christians and as American Indian and Alaska
Native people, demand that the political arena look at us as persons of
dignity?" wrote Sorensen-Bush.
     In the United States, there are 557 federally recognized tribes
speaking more than 200 languages and dialects.  The total population of
those tribes nears two million, said Sorensen-Bush.  There are 20 ELCA
congregations and ministries among the American Indian and Alaska Native
communities with fewer than 20 ordained pastors.
     There are 30 tribal community colleges.  "The colleges are
critical to the survival of our people, in spite of the fact that the
American Indian and Alaska Native people have the lowest rate of college
attendance of any racial group in the country.  Education is imperative
for our people to survive, from kindergarten to college and beyond.  We
are asking for renewed and increased financial support and a reform in
contextual material," Sorensen-Bush said.
     Sorensen-Bush is a member of the ELCA's Advisory Committee for
Rural Ministry, housed in the ELCA Division for Outreach.

ARAB AND MIDDLE EASTERN MINISTRIES
     Grace El-Yateem, Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, New York,
was introduced to the steering committee as the newly-elected president
of the ELCA Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage
(ALAMEH).  El-Yateem was elected by the third biennial assembly 
July 9-11, 1999, at Salam Arabic Lutheran Church.  More than 75 people 
attended  the assembly.
     "My personal goals for the association are to reach out to as many
Arab and Middle Eastern Lutherans living in America as possible, and
inform them of ALAMEH," El-Yateem told the steering committee.  She
plans to encourage Arab Lutherans to attend the 1999 Multicultural
Mission Institute and "let our voice be heard."
     El-Yateem plans to "uplift and encourage existing Arab ministries
in every possible way.  They need our prayers, our financial support and
access to the resources available in the ELCA.  ALAMEH should also serve
as a link between Arab churches and the various divisions of the ELCA."
     "The Arab and Middle Eastern Lutheran International Conference
will be held in Jerusalem, Palestine, July 4-9, 2000," said the Rev.
Bassam J. Abdallah, ELCA consultant on Arab and Middle Eastern
ministries.  The conference "will be the first to bring together
Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage from both sides of the
Atlantic," he said.
     "Your New Neighbor," an ELCA resource about Arab and Middle
Eastern people, will be available in March 2000.  "The resource is about
Arab and Middle Eastern people, the problems they face as they immigrate
to the United States, and what ELCA congregations can do to be more
hospitable," said Abdallah.
     Another "desperately needed" resource is an Arabic hymnal and
worship resource featuring traditional and contemporary hymns, Abdallah
said.  "We are working with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan,
using their resources for worship," he said.

ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER MINISTRIES
     The Chinese Book of Worship is well underway, the Rev. Pongsak
Limthongviratn, ELCA director for Asian and Pacific Islander ministries,
told the steering committee.  Lutheran liturgies have been translated
from English to Chinese (Mandarin) by Mabel Wu, professor of liturgy and
worship at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong.
     Limthongviratn said the Chinese Book of Worship "will be used in
all Chinese congregations and ministries."
     A National Asian Strategic Plan, designed to guide the Asian and
Pacific Islander ministry efforts of the church, will be available for
consideration by the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis.
     The plan's task force committee will meet in November to review a
draft of the plan and forward it to Asian leaders and congregations of
the church for their response.
     A center for Chinese ministry will open next year, said
Limthongviratn.  "The center will provide continuing education programs
for clergy and lay leaders.  Participants will develop resource
materials in Chinese for Asian congregations, study issues facing the
Chinese community and develop recommendations for the ELCA's
consideration.  No one knows Chinese ministries better than Chinese
people," he said.

HISPANIC MINISTRIES
     The ELCA Hispanic Ministries desk and the Association of Hispanic
Lutheran Ministries are developing a national strategic plan for
consideration by the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
     The plan, designed to guide the ELCA's Latino ministry efforts,
includes a component called "Latino Lutheran Identity."
     The topic of "Latino Lutheran Identity" will be explored in two
consultations, one in Chicago, October 1999, and the second in Los
Angeles, January 2000.
     "Hispanic Lutherans from around the country will discuss theology
and the identity of Latinos in the ELCA, said the Rev. Maria del Rosario
Valenzuela, ELCA director for Hispanic and leadership ministries.
     Consultation participants will develop three models for ministry
with and among Lutheran Latinos.  "Models will create a framework of
what it means to be Latino and Lutheran," said Valenzuela.  "We are a
very diverse community, spread throughout the United States and Puerto
Rico."
     "Immigration affects many people within our community," Valenzuela
told the steering committee.  "The ELCA is an immigrant church which
needs to continue opening its doors to all of God's people."
     "We are an immigrant community, and we do not have a strong voice
addressing U.S. immigration laws," said the Rev. Carlos Paiva, Angelica
Lutheran Church, Los Angeles.  Paiva is president of the Association of
Hispanic Lutheran Ministries.
     The association and ELCA Hispanic Ministries are working with the
ELCA Office of the Bishop and other churchwide units on the subject of
immigration.

ELCA COMMISSION FOR MULTICULTURAL MINISTRIES
     The ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries gives advice and
assistance to the ELCA's 11,000 congregations and other expressions of
the church across the United States and Caribbean on ministry among
people of color and primary language other than English.  It develops
workshops and resources, print and video, to help the ELCA's 65 synods
and 11,000 congregations dismantle racism.
     The commission holds an annual Multicultural Mission Institute to
help congregations and individuals of various ethnic and cultural
backgrounds "reach out to others and experience a multicultural
community."  The 1999 Multicultural Mission Institute will take place
Nov. 5-7 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

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