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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 20, 2001

LUTHERAN CYCLISTS SPREAD MESSAGE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
01-169-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- From Bar Harbor, Maine, to Fort Myers, Fla., a
father-son bicycle team is spreading a message against the death penalty
in the United States this summer.  James Colver and his father Robert
are members of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, San Jose,
Calif., a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA).
     "Trek 2001" began June 12, the day after Timothy McVeigh was
executed for the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building,
Oklahoma City, which killed 168 people.  "I'm only more encouraged to
cycle as a result of his execution," said James Colver.
     James, 22, said he has read reports about the bombing that suggest
there were others involved in the attack who will receive lesser
sentences, such as life in prison.  McVeigh wanted to be executed,
"likely to become a martyr for his cause," he said.
     The trek got off to a late start, but James said in a June 18
telephone interview from Salem, Mass., the cyclists had made up for lost
time and were almost back on schedule.  They plan to travel about 75
miles a day to be in Washington, D.C., on July 4 and reach Fort Myers by
Aug. 18.
     The journey is called "Trek 2001" because long-distance cycling
"to witness to the love of God" has become almost an annual event for
James.  In 1996 he rode from Oregon to California to raise money for a
burned African American church in Florida; in 1997 a 60-mile ride raised
funds for a Christian camp damaged by floods; and in 1999 a trip from
Virginia to Oregon raised money for Prison Congregations of America.
     "My mission this summer is mainly to help educate those I meet
about the message of peace and reconciliation through Jesus explained in
the gospel.  I will encourage everyone to look to Jesus for the answer
to criminals, and not resort to capital punishment as a false means of
justice," said James.
     James is a sophomore at Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, Wash.,
majoring in biblical studies.  Robert is an automotive publisher who
writes "car care guides."  James uses much of his father's wisdom to
help him conduct a "car care ministry" at college.
     Biblical studies will provide the "tools to help me for the
summer," said James.  He said advocates for the death penalty often use
portions of the Bible to justify capital punishment, but working with
Greek texts, commentaries and a few key questions can help him use the
same Bible passages to oppose the death penalty.
     "Mainly, I try to ask, 'Is this something Jesus Christ would have
us do? Is this compatible with his ministry? It really isn't.  It's
nothing he called us to do," said James.  He said there are many secular
reasons to oppose the death penalty, but he is focusing his attention on
the biblical reasons available to Christians.
     In 1991 the ELCA adopted a social statement opposing capital
punishment.  "It is because of this church's ministry with and to people
affected by violent crime that we oppose the death penalty," it said.
"It is because of this church's concern regarding the actual use of the
death penalty that we oppose its imposition."
     "We increasingly question whether the death penalty has been and
can be administered justly," said the statement. "It is because of this
church's commitment to justice that we oppose the death penalty."
-- -- --
     The ELCA social statement on the death penalty is available at
http://www.elca.org/dcs/death.html on the Web.

     The ELCA Division for Church in Society plans to trace the
Colvers' progress at http://www.elca.org/dcs/biketrip.html throughout
the summer.

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