wfn.org | The Middle East to Be Topic for Lutherans November 3-5

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 20, 2000

THE MIDDLE EAST TO BE TOPIC FOR LUTHERANS NOVEMBER 3-5
00-245-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (ELCJ), will discuss the present
situation of Christians living in the Middle East at the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) 2000 Multicultural Mission Institute
Nov. 3-5 at The Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel,  Los Angeles.
     In the last 30 years, almost 60 percent of the ELCJ membership,
especially the young, have emigrated to other Arab-speaking countries
and to the United States, according to Younan.  Some of the remaining
members have lost their homes, without compensation, due to the economic
situation and unstable political climate in the Middle East, he said.
     The ELCJ has 2,000 members in six congregations in Amman, Jordan;
Beit Jala; Beir Sahour; Bethlehem; East Jerusalem; and Ramallah.  The
ELCJ is the only "indigenous" Lutheran church in the Middle East.  In
1974 the church joined the Lutheran World Federation, a global communion
of 131 member churches in 72 countries representing 59.5 million of the
world's 63 million Lutherans.  The ELCA is also a member of LWF.
     The theme of the 2000 Multicultural Mission Institute is "Free in
the Spirit."  Hosted by the ELCA Commission for Multicultural
Ministries, the institute is designed to help congregations of the ELCA
of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds "reach out to others and
experience a multicultural community."   Through Bible studies, worship,
workshops and speakers, the institute promotes a better understanding of
issues related to multicultural ministries; equips and inspires
participants for ministries in their settings; builds a multicultural
community through dialogue; and strengthens and supports African
American, Black, American Indian and Alaska native, Arab and Middle
Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic/Latino congregational
ministries.
     Workshop topics at the Institute range from the plight of
Christians in the Middle East to developing strategies for diverse
worship among congregations.
     The Rev. Kenneth W. Wheeler, assistant to the bishop, ELCA Greater
Milwaukee Synod, and Lori Claudia, associate director for Latino
evangelism and discipleship, ELCA Division for Congregational
Ministries, will also give keynote presentations.
     The Rev. Jamie Segaran Bruning, Faith Lutheran Church, Sidney,
Mich., will lead Bible studies.  Bruning, also a host for a Christian
contemporary radio station, will explore the interrelationships of
scripture, music and culture.
     The Rev. John H. Thomas, president of the United Church of Christ
(UCC), Cleveland, will preach at the opening worship.  The ELCA and UCC
established a "full communion" relationship in 1997.  The Rev. Mary
Louise Frenchman, a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Nation, will
preach at closing worship.  Frenchman serves as pastor for Living Waters
Lutheran Church, Cherokee, N.C.
     The Multicultural Mission Institute is an annual event hosted by
the ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries.  The commission
provides advice and assistance to the ELCA's 10,851 congregations,
organized into 65 synods throughout the United States and Caribbean, on
ministry among people of color and whose primary language is not
English.  It develops workshops and resources, print and video, to help
the church dismantle racism.

Editor's note: Information about the ELCA 2000 Multicultural Mission
Institute can be found on http://www.elca.org/cmm/events/html

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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