wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Addresses Youth Violence, Economic Justice Issues

[News News <news@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 19, 1999

ELCA ASSEMBLY ADDRESSES YOUTH VIOLENCE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUES
99-CWA-32-DM

     DENVER (ELCA) -- Violence among youth and economic justice for
small coffee farmers around the world were issues addressed Aug. 18 by
the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), in resolutions adopted by nearly unanimous votes.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting Aug. 16-22 here at the Colorado Convention Center.
There are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA
voting members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ
Known: Hope for a New Century."
     The two resolutions came to the floor of the assembly during the
first report of the Memorials Committee, a panel that considers proposed
resolutions forwarded by the ELCA's 65 synods.
     By a 976 to 6 vote, the assembly expressed "deep concern for the
youth of our world, especially those at risk from racism, sexism,
hunger, violence, abuse, drugs and poverty, including those who are in
prison."
     The resolution also asks various ELCA units "to assess current
resources available and develop other appropriate responses that deal
with the core issue of violence."  It encourages "individuals, families,
Lutheran youth organizations and congregations of this church to utilize
existing ELCA resources to support study leading to local initiatives."
     Adopted by nearly as wide a margin, 934 to 22, was a resolution
from the Memorials Committee to encourage ELCA congregations and
individuals to buy their coffee through a project undertaken by Lutheran
World Relief (LWR), an inter-Lutheran disaster-aid and development
agency.
     The resolution expresses concern for small coffee farmers and
support for "fair trade practices that provide a just return for their
labor."
     The Rev. Natanael Lizarazo, a native of Colombia, South America,
and a voting member from the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, told assembly
members that the LWR program "will bring livelihood and sustainability
for small farmers."  LWR obtains the coffee through a worker-owned
organization called Equal Exchange.

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