wfn.org | Lutherans From Around the World Discuss Globalization, Peace

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 5, 2004

Lutherans From Around the World Discuss Globalization, Peace
04-142-MR

     MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- About 2,000 Lutherans from across the country and
around the world gathered together this summer to study economic
globalization, peace work, public policy and more at the 2004 Global
Mission Events (GMEs) hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA).
     Under the theme, "Claimed by God's grace for the sake of the world,"
GME participants reflected on the ELCA's international mission through
workshops and seminars -- known as "Global University" -- keynote
presentations, conversation with international guests and ELCA mission
personnel, worship and music.  GMEs were held July 29-Aug. 1 at the
Midwest Airlines Center here, and July 15-18 at Montana State University,
Bozeman, Mont.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, opened the GME
in Milwaukee by expressing gratitude to the church's mission personnel,
calling them "God's people claimed for the sake of the world."
     About 290 ELCA mission personnel serve in more than 45 countries
around the world.  Seventy percent of mission personnel are lay people,
and 20 percent of mission personnel are under the age of 30.  Lutheran
churches from around the world invite members of the ELCA to serve as
seminary professors, teachers, librarians, counselors, accountants,
computer consultants, pastors, and in other roles.
     Speaking to the GME theme, Hanson hypothesized a "human dilemma."
"We resent and resist the notion of being claimed by others, yet we are
driven to lay claim to others," he told participants.  "Our resentment to
being claimed by others does not seem to drive away our desire to lay
claim to others."
     Hanson said "those claims are woven throughout history," and he asked
participants, "Who's got a claim on you?"
     Last year Hanson was elected president of the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF), a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition.  Founded in 1947, the LWF now has 136 member churches in 76
countries, representing 61.7 million of the world's nearly 65.4 million
Lutherans.
     "I believe that most Americans want to be known as a generous,
peace-seeking people.  Yet we are perceived as intoxicated with our power
. rather than standing with those [who live] in poverty around the
world," Hanson said.
     "We are propagandized into a state of fear.  Fear hardens life, it
closes borders," he said.  "Faith frees us.  Faith invites us to be
engaged in the world.  Faith causes us to rejoice, and faith gives us
courage to go out into the world. It unites us and sends us," Hanson said.
     "To be claimed by God's grace means that life is a gift, not a
possession," Hanson said.  "God, the giver of life, lays claim on you."

Lutherans in Colombia, India and Liberia Work for Peace
     The events also gave special focus to Lutheran peace work around the
world.	    Jenny Neme, a peace activist and staff member of Justapaz, an
ecumenical peace organization in Bogota, Colombia, told participants,
"Many churches and people, like me ask, 'What is God calling the churches
and people to do in Colombia?'"
     Neme described the 40-year political violence and human rights
violations in Colombia.  Of the 43 million people in Colombia, about 3
million have been internally displaced.   "Churches are also experiencing
violence," she said through an interpreter.  At the end of 2003, "40
Protestant church leaders and pastors were assassinated for their
peace-making efforts," Neme said.
     Churches in the United States "can stand with Colombia, especially
when churches in Colombia are threatened with violence," she said.  "The
people of Colombia need alternatives, not military negotiations, to live
with dignity.  Peace is a commitment from everyone."
     Leymah Gbowee, a member of the Lutheran Church in Liberia and an
active leader among Lutheran women working for peace in Liberia, told
participants that Liberia is emerging from a 15-year civil war.
     "Destruction is vast and many Liberians have been living without
electricity for the last 14 years," Gbowee said.  "Women have been pushed
back physically, mentally and emotionally" and "now we're working for
peace," she said.  "Today we have a campaign called 'Never Again.'  No
more violence.	We are determined to fashion ourselves and our children to
a people unburdened, to support good government" and "work for justice."
     In a separate session, the Rev. Chandran Paul Martin, executive
secretary, United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, and the Rev. David
Pfrimmer, director, Lutheran Office for Public Policy, Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Canada, addressed the topic of economic globalization.
     In an interview, Martin said the power of economic globalization has
only "worked well for a few, very few, in India.  Globalization has not
addressed the most fundamental issues of poverty, starvation, basic health
care, basic education, housing and more."     "The world is changing and,
of course, [India is] part of the global village.  Certainly we don't deny
it.  But that does not mean that [topics] such as agriculture, employment
and health care, should not be addressed.  Globalization, in fact, has
made life worse for the poor," said Martin.
     Jim Goodman, a farmer, shared some of his experiences of farming in
Wisconsin, and the Rev. Santiago Rodriguez, a pastor of the Salvadoran
Lutheran Synod, San Salvador, El Salvador, spoke on the privatization of
water in El Salvador.
     Daniel Kemmis, director, Center for the Rocky Mountain West, a
studies and public policy center at The University of Montana in Missoula,
and former mayor of Missoula, spoke on the topic of globalization at the
Bozeman event.

Young Adults in Global Mission
     At both events four missionaries under the age of 30 shared their
experiences of working overseas and how international mission has shaped
their lives and vocations.
     "If I don't live out my faith, use my gifts, then I don't know what
I'm doing.  Life doesn't make sense," Tim Barr, Houston, told
participants.  Barr participated in LWF's International Youth Program,
"Transformation Through Participation."
     Aaron Chan, a Methodist, served as an "observer" in the West Bank and
Gaza under the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Accompaniment Program
in Palestine and Israel.  He described mission work as a "personal faith
journey" and "putting theology into practice."
     Angela Khabeb, a student at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis., served
two years in Namibia as secretary for the bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Namibia.  She said mission work "is about
relationships" and "reaching out to our neighbors."  Carthage is one of 28
colleges and universities of the ELCA.
     Anne Hallman, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada,
spent a year in the United Kingdom.  Hallman said international mission is
"about walking together as we find our way home."

Global University Sessions and Teaching Theologians
     "Global University" Sessions highlighted the GMEs.  Topics ranged
from pilgrimages in Africa to prison congregations in the United States,
from religious practices and symbols to global trade, and from "post Sept.
11" U.S. border security to maritime ministry.
     The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA Division
for Global Mission, and the Rev. Richard A. Magnus, executive director,
ELCA Division for Outreach, led a workshop called, "Mission: Just Do It."
Using stories from the Bible, Malpica Padilla identified key concepts for
Lutherans to engage in mission.
     "God is on a mission to restore community," he said.  "Walk with one
another, and as you're walking, listen.  Share Scripture, the Word of God,
as you're walking and listening.  Issue an invitation for fellowship and
go forth, witness."
     Magnus identified ELCA congregations across the country noted for
their ability to "open up and work with other communities."  He said a
purpose of the ELCA Division for Outreach is to "foster and facilitate"
the church's outreach efforts by starting new congregations and renewing
existing ministries.

GlobalFest
     Another highlight of the GMEs was GlobalFest, which featured
interactive exhibits, stage presentations, music, dance and dress from
countries around the world.  GlobalFest was led by ELCA mission personnel,
international students and others working in mission.  This year's
GlobalFest began with an outdoor festival and included an evening indoor
concert of global music.

Symposium on the Public Church
     Karen Vagley, director, Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs,
Washington, D.C., and Malpica Padilla moderated a symposium on public
policy, advocacy and the church.  Through a four-member panel discussion
and a series of video presentations, national and international church
leaders commented on what it means to be a public church.
     "There are public parts of our faith," said Vagley.  "We have a story
to tell" and "we have political opinions."
     Vagley invited participants to ponder the questions, "Where is the
line between the absolute separation of church and state and our Lutheran
understanding of institutional separation and functional interactivity?
Where is the line [drawn] when we accept civil enactment of specific
theological doctrine as law?"
     The ELCA Division for Global Mission primarily organizes GMEs with
support from other ELCA churchwide units and Thrivent Financial For
Lutherans, a fraternal benefits organization based in Minneapolis.  The
event in Bozeman was co-sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Canada.  Volunteers from Bozeman and Milwaukee assisted the division in
organizing the events.
_ _ _

     Information about the ELCA Global Mission Events is available at
http://www.elca.org/gme/ on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news