wfn.org | ELCA, Brazil Church Enter Mission 'Covenant'

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 11, 2001

ELCA, BRAZIL CHURCH ENTER MISSION 'COVENANT'
01-CWA34 JI

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- A new 10-year period of work together in a
number of areas officially began Aug. 11  for the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran
Confession of Brazil (IECLB) with the signing of a "Covenant for
Cooperative Mission" at the ELCA churchwide assembly.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center.  There
are more than 2,000 people participating, including 1,040 ELCA voting
members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known:
Sharing Faith in a New Century."
     Signing the covenant were ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson
and IECLB President Huberto Kirchheim. The ELCA and IECLB have the
largest memberships among Lutheran church bodies in North and South
America, respectively.
     The covenant continues and expands a partnership of the two
churches in ministries and programs -- a partnership that dates to 1990.
It does not speak to altar-and-pulpit fellowship, since the ELCA and
IECLB already have that relationship because of their membership in the
Lutheran World Federation.
     Terms of the covenant include:
     * sharing resources for social and congregational ministries,
domestic mission programs, "sustainable development," leadership
development, and theological education;
     * encouraging and facilitating relationships between the two
churches at virtually all levels;
     * communicating details of joint ventures to constituencies of the
two churches and to the larger Lutheran audience;
     * promoting "ecumenical relationships, cooperative mission, and
resource sharing" among Lutherans in North, Central and South America;
and
     * working together to "address social, economic, political, and
ethical issues affecting church and society."
     The covenant stipulates that joint work of the two churches be
evaluated and reported "to ensure both continuing mission effectiveness
and cost effectiveness."  It also calls for an evaluation at the end of
the 10-year period, with options to revise, renew or rescind it "at the
mutual consent of the churches."
     "We have had good cooperation and experiences in the past and look
forward with hope to new opportunities," Kirchheim told the assembly, as
he expressed "profound recognition and gratitude" toward Anderson.
     Kirchheim referred to the two churches as a "missionary team
[working to] overcome obstacles to bringing Christ to the world."
     "The church in Brazil has been a leader in showing how churches
can work together," said Anderson, "especially in social concerns and
concern for the poor."
     Before signing the covenant, Anderson and Kirchheim exchanged
gifts from their church bodies.

-- -- -- 
     Information about assembly actions will be at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site.  Recorded
updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.

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