wfn.org | ELCA Council 'Applauds' Rural Ministry

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 16, 2000

ELCA COUNCIL 'APPLAUDS' RURAL MINISTRY
00-280-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received and "applauded" a report
on the church's rural ministry and acted to encourage members of the
ELCA to strengthen their commitment to the ministry.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves
as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide
assemblies.  The council met here Nov. 10-13.  Assemblies are held
every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, 2001, in Indianapolis.
     "Many rural people live with an understanding of an Old
Testament God, a God of law, sacrifices and vengeance.  But, we bring
a God of grace, redemption and hope, which is the vision of the ELCA
rural ministry desk," Sandra LaBlanc, Des Moines, Iowa, told the
council.  LaBlanc is an associate in ministry and director for rural
ministry resources and networks, ELCA Division for Outreach.  The
1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly resolved to establish the rural and
small-town ministries "desk."
     In her report to the board, LaBlanc said there are four primary
areas of rural ministry.  They are education, spirituality, resource
development and advocacy.
     Advocacy efforts fall into three key areas: the need for public
policy that alleviates difficulty from "abnormal" price fluctuations;
concerns regarding biogenetic engineering and food production; and
the legal, moral and philosophical questions surrounding the
concentration of food production under a few multi-national
corporations, LaBlanc said.
     These advocacy efforts were determined by ELCA's rural ministry
advisory committee and the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs
(LOGA), she said.  LOGA is the ELCA's federal public policy advocacy
office in Washington, D.C.
     Through rural ministry, members of the ELCA participated in and
helped sponsor "Rally for Rural America" in Washington, D.C., last
March; met with leaders of three U.S. farm organizations at the
ELCA's Lutheran Center here Sept. 27 to discuss how the church may
help to improve the future of rural America and farming; and
addressed rural issues among clergy, laity, and the ELCA's eight
seminaries and 65 synods.
     The council acknowledged the need to continue providing support
for the ELCA rural ministry.

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