wfn.org | ELCA Bishops Pledge Financial Gifts to 'Stand with Africa'

[News News <news@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 8, 2001

ELCA BISHOPS PLEDGE FINANCIAL GIFTS TO 'STAND WITH AFRICA'
01-CWA03-JB

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a resolution
supporting "Stand With Africa: A Campaign of Hope," and pledged to
provide individual financial gifts to the campaign in addition to their
regular commitments to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
     The Conference of Bishops is an advisory body of the ELCA's 65
synod bishops, the presiding bishop and secretary.  It met here Aug. 7-8
in advance of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the church's highest
legislative authority.
     Stand With Africa focuses on issues significant to Africa,
including HIV/AIDS, food security, and peace and reconciliation.  The
three-year campaign is being coordinated by the ELCA World Hunger
Program, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) World Relief, and
Lutheran World Relief, the overseas relief and development agency of the
ELCA and LCMS.
     The bishop's resolution also included a commitment "to urge
congregations and pastors in (their) respective synods to provide
special efforts of support and advocacy" for the Africa emphasis in the
next three years.  It also called on the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
"to pledge prayers and support for this extraordinary effort."
     The resolution follows a similar resolution adopted by the bishops
at their meeting earlier this year in San Antonio.  The Rev. Howard E.
Wennes, bishop of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod, Phoenix, presented the
resolution on behalf of the bishops' Committee on Ministry Among People
in Poverty.
     The Rev. Lee M. Miller, bishop of the ELCA Upstate New York Synod,
told the bishops the needs in Africa are "immense," and told them of his
synod's efforts to build relationships with people from Zimbabwe.  The
Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod,
said he just returned from a visit to Tanzania.
     "This Stand With Africa effort is heartening to the people there,"
he said.
     The Conference of Bishops also participated in discussions on
other topics:
     + In a joint meeting with the ELCA Church Council, they discussed
some concerns related to a proposed bylaw amendment to the ELCA
Constitution. The proposal, to be considered by the churchwide assembly,
would allow for some possible exceptions to ordination procedures
required by Called to Common Mission, a full communion agreement of the
Episcopal Church and ELCA.  Ellen T. Maxon, council member, Hartland,
Wis., raised some concerns about background material provided to
assembly voting members on the issue.  Among other things, she asked
that an understanding of CCM by the Episcopal bishops, known as the
"Mind of the House" resolution, be provided to all ELCA assembly voting
members as they consider the proposed bylaw.  The Episcopal bishops'
resolution may help ELCA voting members understand how the Episcopalians
would view Lutheran pastors who may be ordained outside CCM procedures,
she suggested.
     + The Rev. Ralph W. Dunkin, bishop of the ELCA West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, provided the bishops with a list of needs
relating to recent flood losses in West Virginia and southwest Virginia.
He asked the bishops to share the list throughout their synods.

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