wfn.org | Young Adult Lutherans of African Descent to Meet in Atlanta

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: Young Adult Lutherans of African Descent to Meet in Atlanta
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>September 30, 2008  

Young Adult Lutherans of African Descent to Meet in Atlanta
08-164-FI

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- At least 75 young adult Lutherans of
African descent will travel to Atlanta from across the United
States and Caribbean for "Sitting at the Welcome Table," Oct. 2-
5, the second national conference designed to help leaders aged
19-35 find their roles in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA).

"I am sure that the future of the ELCA, as well as our local
congregations and synods, will be in good hands once these future
leaders return to their homes in the U.S. Virgin Islands,
California, New York, Ohio, Washington and 13 other states," said
the Rev. O. Dennis Mims, mission director and director for
African Descent Outreach, ELCA Southwest California Synod,
Glendale.

"Young adults attending the conference will learn more about
church vocations, lay leadership positions, issues facing the
church and the various human resources needed in the ELCA," Mims
said.

The conference includes time for worship, conversations
about the challenges young adult Lutherans of African descent may
encounter in taking leadership roles in a predominantly white
church, presentations on lay and ordained ministry opportunities
and a tour of the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta.

Conference speakers include:

+ The Rev. Oliver E. Brown, chaplain, Federal Correctional
Institution, Schuylkill, Minersville, Pa.
+ Sister Ramona Cecille, supervisor, Clinical Pastoral Education,
St. Mary Medical Center, Wyncote, Pa.
+ The Rev. Torrey O. Johnson, St. Mark Lutheran Church, East
Point, Ga.
+ The Rev. Lucille A. Mills, Rejoice Lutheran Church, Chesapeake,
Va.
+ The Rev. Darrell D. Morton, assistant to the presiding bishop,
ELCA Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries, Washington, D.C.
+ The Rev. Peter T. Nash, Franklin I. and Irene Saemann Professor
of World Communities and professor of religion and liberal
studies, Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa
+ The Rev. Charles V. Newman, assistant to the bishop, ELCA Grand
Canyon Synod, Phoenix

Located on the campus of the Interdenominational Theological
Center, the Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta is an
extension of the eight ELCA seminaries.  Wartburg College is one
of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.  The Southwest
California Synod and Grand Canyon Synod are two of the church's
65 synods.

ELCA Multicultural Ministries hosts the conference with the
support of ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission.
It is the second conference of its kind.  ELCA Multicultural
Ministries hosted "Breaking the Barriers: An African Descent
Young Adult Consultation" in January 2007 at the Lutheran School
of Theology at Chicago.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog