wfn.org | ELCA Council Reaffirms Multicultural Mission

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 15, 1999

ELCA COUNCIL REAFFIRMS MULTICULTURAL MISSION
99-15-097-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) has not made satisfactory progress toward its goal of having at
least 10 percent of its membership be people of color or whose primary
language is not English, said Carol L. Weiser, Bethlehem, Pa., a
member
of the ELCA Church Council.
     The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the
legislative authority of the church between meetings of its churchwide
assemblies.  The council met here April 9-12.  Assemblies are held
every
other year; the next is August 16-22 in Denver.
     At the recommendation of its program and structure committee, the
Church Council directed the ELCA Commission for Multicultural
Ministries
(CMM) to review its present "structural" relationship with other units
and expressions of the church.
      "This is not a criticism of the current structure, but an
encouragement to take the next step," Weiser said.  The council
expressed "deep appreciation" for the staff and steering committee of
the Commission for Multicultural Ministries.
     The council also "affirmed the renewal" of CMM's mandate.  The
commission assists the church in working toward the goal of "full
partnership and participation" of African American, American Indian
and
Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Arab and Middle Eastern,
and
Hispanic people in the "life of the church and society."
     In April 1997 the program and structure committee began a review
of the commission.  The committee observed that the United States is a
"multicultural mission field," said Weiser.  "The Commission for
Multicultural Ministries is essential to the mission of our church."
     Through its budget and finance committee, the Church Council will
evaluate CMM's budget and grants and recommend the that 1999 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly "reaffirm" the church's commitment to be a
multicultural church.
     The council's program and structure committee establishes a
process for the review of at least two ELCA units each biennium; all
units of the church are reviewed within a ten-year period.

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