wfn.org | ELCA Synods to Host Post LWF Assembly Visits

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 5, 2003

ELCA SYNODS TO HOST POST LWF ASSEMBLY VISITS
03-116-JAC*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As an extension of the Lutheran World
Federation's (LWF) Tenth  Assembly July 21-31 in Winnipeg, Canada, the
LWF in conjunction with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), will provide post-assembly visitation programs in the United
States and the Carribean.
     There are 25 separate sites that will host post-assembly visits
within the ELCA.  These sites include several of the ELCA's 65 synods
and range geographically from Alaska to the U. S. Virgin Islands and
Puerto Rico.  The sites provide programs that range from three to 10
days depending on location.
     The visits will include Washington, D. C., and the ELCA
Northwestern Minnesota Synod, said Kathy J. Magnus, North America
regional officer for the Lutheran World Federation. For example, in
Washington, D. C., Lutherans from throughout the world will learn about
how the ELCA works with government officials on issues such as relief,
immigration and refugee concerns and others.
     "We've got people from Ethiopia, Hungary, Romania, Indonesia,
Italy, Sierra Leone, Austria, Namibia and India who are registered for
that event," Magnus said.
     According to Magnus, the individuals who signed up for the trip to
Washington, D. C. are interested in advocacy for church in government.
It's about the exchange of information, she said.
     "This one in Washington I believe will be absolutely fascinating,"
Magnus said.
     The site in northwestern Minnesota should also be interesting,
according to Magnus.  The northwestern Minnesota visit will explain how
disasters are dealt with by the ELCA.
     Currently, 110 international guests are registered for the post-
assembly visitation programs.  This number will be augmented by ELCA
missionaries, international Lutheran seminary students and ELCA members
who are interested in global mission, said Magnus.
     While the ELCA usually holds two annual Global Mission Events,
this year the conferences have been deferred in lieu of the visitation
programs.  The events usually have hundreds of attendees, and Magnus
said that many of these attendees are expected to join the visitation
groups this year.
     For international guests, measures are being taken to assist them
with travel.  Currently, the LWF is sending letters of invitation to aid
international travelers in obtaining visas.  In case of last minute
problems, Magnus said that the LWF is prepared.
     "What we're hoping to have is a 'fallback' site in Winnipeg in
case some people aren't allowed into the U. S.," Magnus said.
     The LWF is a global communion of 136 churches in 76 countries, and
is composed of almost 62 million Lutherans.  It  provides leadership
training, theological education, medical care and human rights advocacy.
The LWF assembly is held every six or seven years.
-- -- --
     Information about the LWF Assembly visitation program can be found
at http://www.lwf-assembly.org/visitation.html on the Web.

*Jessica A. Crane is completing her degree at Concordia College,
Moorhead, Minn.  This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media
production.

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