wfn.org | 'Understanding Islam' Theme of Summer 2003 MOSAIC

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 16, 2003

'UNDERSTANDING ISLAM' THEME OF SUMMER 2003 MOSAIC
03-125-JAC*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The summer 2003 issue of MOSAIC, the video
magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) focuses on
Islam, its history and its relationship with the ELCA.
     The 30-minute program includes information on the Prophet
Mohammed, the rise of Islam and the five pillars of Islam.  Also
included in the program are visits to two mosques located in the United
States and interviews with Islamic scholars and Christian theologians.
     The theme of the program originated because of growing interest in
Islam, said Timothy Frakes, associate director for interpretation, ELCA
Department for Communication, and MOSAIC producer.  "There is  a lot of
interest in Islam today, particularly following September 11," he said.
"Lutherans are finding that their neighbors are Muslim."
     According to Frakes, many Lutherans are interested in
understanding Islam because of an increasing number of Muslim immigrants
and because of Lutheran World Federation (LWF) work being done in the
Middle East.  The LWF is a global communion of 136 Lutheran churches in
76 countries, and consists of 62 million members.
     Included in the program are interviews with the Rev. Harold S.
Vogelaar, resident scholar of world religions, Lutheran School of
Theology at Chicago; Ghulam Haider Aasi, professor of Islamic studies,
American Islamic College; and the Rev. Bonnie L. Jensen, executive
director, ELCA Division for Global Mission.
     Melissa O. Ramirez, associate director for news, ELCA Department
for Communication, is host of MOSAIC.
     MOSAIC is produced and distributed by the ELCA Department for
Communication, and is available in VHS and DVD formats.  It is intended
for educational use in a variety of congregational settings including
Sunday School classes, adult forums, youth groups, women's and men's
groups, new member classes, church council meetings, committee meetings
and other organizational meetings.
     MOSAIC is broadcast Sundays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on direct
broadcast satellite through Dominion Sky Angel on the Faith TV Network,
available through most cable satellite providers.  Some ELCA colleges
and universities carry MOSAIC on local cable channels.
     Each issue included a user's guide, with a synopsis of each
segment and discussion questions.  MOSAIC is issued quarterly.	Annual
subscriptions are available through the ELCA Department for
Communication.
-- -- --
     Specific information about MOSAIC subscriptions and the content of
each issue are available on the Web at http://www.elca.org/mosaic.html
or by contacting the ELCA Department for Communication by phone at 1-
800-638-3522 ext. 6009.
     Editors: Digital photographs that accompany each story can be
requested by e-mail at mosaic@elca.org or by phone 1-800-638-3522 ext.
6009.
     *Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts 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