wfn.org | ELCA Women Support Jubilee 2000/USA Campaign

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 9, 1999

ELCA WOMEN SUPPORT JUBILEE 2000/USA CAMPAIGN
99-WO-07-FI

     ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- A biblical concept of forgiving debts every 50
years, in the "year of jubilee," is the basis of a bill now before U.S.
Congress to promote international debt relief for the world's poorest
nations by the end of 2000.  Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) has resolved to support the legislation and the Jubilee
2000/USA Campaign.
     The Fourth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA is meeting here
July 8-11 at the America's Center.  The organization's three-year theme,
"Live God's Justice," is unveiled at the convention amid Bible study,
keynote addresses, workshops, business sessions and elections.
     The Jubilee 2000/USA Campaign is the work of a coalition of U.S.
religious organizations -- including the ELCA and Lutheran World Relief --
as part of a worldwide movement to cancel the crushing international debt
held by impoverished countries by the new millennium.
     The convention resolved -- 418 to 33 -- to join "other voices of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, other denominational and faith
communities in calling for a Jubilee year in 2000 for the cancellation of
international debt to the poorest nations in our global community, for the
purpose of restoring basic human service benefits to the neediest citizens
of these countries."
     It is noble to excuse debts, said Denise Smith, president of the
women's organization of the ELCA's Alaska Synod.  "What will be done to
help these countries avoid falling into debt again?" she asked.
     "The debts are not to be forgiven without accountability," said Emma
Young, a delegate from Tulsa, Okla.  She told the convention that details
about debt relief are described on the Web site of the Lutheran Office for
Governmental Affairs (http://www.loga.org) in Washington, D.C.
     Delegates voted to encourage participants in Women of the ELCA to
educate themselves on the issues surrounding international debt and debt
relief.
     The resolution directed those at the convention to a display in its
exhibit area, "The Hall of Justice," where they could write letters to
their members of Congress, and it urged participants in Women of the ELCA
who were not present to write letters of support for the Debt Relief for
Poverty Reduction Act of 1999.

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