wfn.org | ELCA Studying Economic Issues

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 29, 1997

ELCA STUDYING ECONOMIC ISSUES
97-28-080-AH

        CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Ongoing study of economic justice in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will get a boost from a satellite town hall meeting Oct. 4, "Christ Alive in Us! Pursuing Justice in Economic Life."  The Board of the ELCA's Division for Church in Society, meeting here Sept. 18-20, heard details of a convocation involving participants at eight locations.
        Study of economic life is under way in ELCA congregations as the church prepares to develop a social statement.  The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, will take part in the teleconference.  
        The telecast will "explore the dynamics of the current economic situation, what the Christian faith calls the church to do, what the church is doing and strategies for the future," according to the Rev. Leslie Weber, associate executive director of the Division for Church in Society. 
        In the United States, almost 40 million people, including 16 million children, live below or close to the poverty line, the board was told.  The regional convocations will be at Spokane, Wash.; Minneapolis; Austin, Texas; Atchison, Kan.; Huron, Ohio; Litchfield, Conn.; Harrisburg, Pa.; and Columbia, S.C.  They will address welfare reform, downsizing, rural problems, tax abatements and the many economic changes confronting society. 
        The board authorized work on a new study of health care issues.  "Ethical Challenges of Health Care Today: Systemic and Clinical Issues" is the first step toward a proposal for a social statement to be brought to the 1999 churchwide assembly.   
        The Rev. Karen Bloomquist, director for Studies, told the board *the ELCA has significant investment in and expertise regarding health care concerns.*  She said, *Developments in society point to the urgency and importance of addressing this arena.*
        A volume of essays to be titled "The Promise of Lutheran Ethics" will be published before the end of 1997, Bloomquist told the board.  A congregational study on gambling is being drafted.  Another series of essays is being written on questions arising from genetic screening and testing.
        Bloomquist said a new project in 1998 will be the development of a message on immigration to be brought to the ELCA Church Council for adoption.
        Joanne Negstad, St. Paul, Minn., president of Lutheran Services in America, brought to the board the first report of the new organization, formed in April.   LSA is "an alliance of the ELCA, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and their 280 social ministry organizations," Negstad said.
        The board engaged in developing the division*s strategic plan for the next three years that includes a theological framework, the ELCA's Initiatives for a New Century and the scope of work in progress.  Ingrid Christiansen, Chicago, board chairperson, stressed the Bible study and prayer that undergird the strategy: *Our work is in response to God's desire.  We are the body of God's work in the world.  God wishes for us to attend to the needs of God's people.*
        The Rev. Gladys G. Moore, board member from Jersey City, N.J., said, "We have an understanding of our mission, of God's mission, that is to heal, serve and provide justice for people who are marginalized." 
        Christiansen was re-elected for a fourth two-year term as board chairperson.

The ELCA town hall meeting on economic life via satellite teleconference:

Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997
     9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Pacific
     10:00 a.m. -  2:00 p.m. Mountain
     11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Central
     12 noon - 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Frequencies: C Band, Galaxy 3, Transponder 11

For information contact: 
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html