wfn.org | ELCA Presiding Bishop to Be Featured on a Live Webcast

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 24, 2002

ELCA PRESIDING BISHOP TO BE FEATURED ON A LIVE WEBCAST
02-227-DM

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark. S. Hanson, will be
featured on a live Webcast on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m. (Eastern
Time), focusing on the future of the ELCA.
     The Webcast will take place after the ELCA Synod-Churchwide
Consultation "Working Together to Make Christ Known," Oct. 4-6, which
will focus on the strategic planning process Hanson initiated for the
ELCA.
     "The synod-churchwide consultation brings together about 500
people representing all of the 65 synods in the ELCA," said Myrna J.
Sheie, executive assistant to the presiding bishop.  "The Webcast
will give Bishop Hanson the opportunity to do some reporting on the
consultation, but it also gives people who were not part of the
consultation an opportunity to make their comments and contributions
toward the ELCA planning process during that time," said Sheie.
     The one-hour Webcast hosted by Melissa Ramirez, host of MOSAIC,
the video magazine of the ELCA, will start with a 5-minute video,
"Faithful, Yet Changing: 2002 ELCA Synod Assembly Video" featuring
Hanson. The bishop will answer questions and respond to comments that
have been submitted in advance through the Web site, and will offer
reflections about the progress of the ELCA planning process, said
Sheie.
     More than 70 questions have been received so far and, "most of
the questions focus on mission and outreach and issues of sexuality,"
said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director of the ELCA Department for
Communication.	"It is because members feel that there is a need for
the ELCA to do more mission and outreach," said Shafer.
     Concerning the issue of sexuality, he said, "Many members are
concerned and worried about the issue of homosexuality, and they
wonder what its consequences for the ELCA might be."
     The live Webcast offers a chance for members with computer
terminals to interact  with the bishop, said Shafer.  However, Hanson
cannot respond to all questions or comments during the Webcast, but
every suggestion will be reviewed by the ELCA planning committee.
     To watch the live Webcast, viewers need a RealOne Player.	A
"Live Webcast" link will be available on the ELCA homepage
http://www.elca.org  or go straight to the ELCA planning Web site at
http://www.elca.org/planning.

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