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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 13, 1999

ELCA WOMEN HEAR THE STATE OF THE ELCA
99-WO-26-LS

     ST. LOUIS (ELCA)   Dr. Addie J. Butler, vice president of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), highlighted seven
churchwide activities in her speech at the Fourth Triennial Convention
of Women of the ELCA.
     The convention met here July 8-11 at the America's Center.  The
organization's three-year theme, "Live God's Justice," was unveiled amid
Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, business sessions and
elections.
     In the Bible, the number seven implies something "whole, full and
complete," Butler said.  In listing the highlights she thanked Women of
the ELCA for their involvement:

25th ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD HUNGER APPEAL
     In April the church council renewed a commitment to the appeal and
included a reference to the Women of the ELCA, she said.
     Butler also quoted a letter from Lita Brusick Johnson, ELCA
director for world hunger and disaster appeals, "There have been no more
faithful and regular supporters of the church's World Hunger Appeal than
the Women of the ELCA and the women's groups in congregations," Johnson
said.

ANTI-RACISM EFFORTS
     "The Women of the ELCA was on the leading edge of advocating for
and getting involved in anti-racism training," Butler said.  Women of
the ELCA is on record as committed to anti-racism and is to be
commended, she said.  Butler reminded participants that a 
"single anti-racism training session is not enough," racism must be 
confronted repeatedly, she said.

FINANCES
     Butler thanked Women of the ELCA for its gift of $1 million to the
ELCA, calling the gift an "expression of partnership in mission."  This
gift contributed to the total income to the national church exceeding
the amount needed to meet the budget, Butler said.

ECUMENICAL RELATIONS
     Butler discussed the "Formula of Agreement" that was adopted at
the ELCA's 1997 Churchwide Assembly to enter into full communion with
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America and the
United Church of Christ.  This August, delegates to the 1999 Churchwide
Assembly in Denver will consider full communion proposals with The
Episcopal Church and the Moravian Church in America.
     Few people realize that the ELCA is in conversation with members
of other denominations   Roman Catholic, Orthodox and the African
Methodist Episcopal Churches   to find common ground, Butler said.  Even
fewer people know the ELCA is in conversation with people of Jewish,
Muslim and Buddist faiths, she said.

THE ELCA INDENTITY PROJECT
     Based on research from the ELCA Department for Research and
Evaluation, 70 percent of respondents said they get their primary
information about religion from television, Butler said.
     In response, the ELCA launched the Identity Project, a campaign to
increase awareness of the ELCA.  Advertising includes 30- and 60-second
television spots targeting Generation X-ers and Baby Boomers, she said.

A SOCIAL STATEMENT ON ECONOMIC LIFE
     At the churchwide assembly this August, action will be taken on
the recommendation to adopt a new social statement on economic life,
"Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All. This means having enough,
maintaining income over time and a means of making a living that
highlights the dignity of work, Butler said.

INITIATIVES FOR A NEW CENTURY
     The initiatives are ministry priorities identified by the ELCA's
1997 Churchwide Assembly. The initiatives include: deepen our worship
life, teach the faith, witness to God's action in the world, strengthen
one another in mission, help the children, connect with youth and young
adults and develop leaders for the next century.  Women of the ELCA is
involved with each of these initiatives, Butler said.
     "The initiatives are alive and well as we stand on the brink of a
new millennium," Butler said.

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