wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Supports Family Farms, Amends Middle East Action

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 12, 2001
ACTION

ELCA ASSEMBLY SUPPORTS FAMILY FARMS, AMENDS MIDDLE EAST ACTION
01-CWA48-JI

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Support for family farms and a change to
their Aug. 9 action on Middle East tensions came Aug. 12 when voting
members took action at the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
     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."
     The family-farms proposal noted concern about the situation in
farm and rural communities and reaffirms a 1999 churchwide assembly
action that urged prayer and advocacy for those caught in the family-
farm crises, along with study of the challenges they face.
     Other points of this assembly's action commend ELCA Presiding
Bishop H. George Anderson's  initiatives,  including "a historic
meeting" he held with leaders of three leading farm organizations; and
support agreements that came from a "Rural Summit" that the church body
convened in March 2000.
     Those agreements from the summit call for:
     * insuring an adequate worldwide food supply;
     * responding to the effects of low commodity pricing;
     * providing resources for rural communities;
     * providing forums for farmers, ranchers, "and their communities";
     * studying farm-related issues aimed at fair legislation;
     * emphasizing responsible land usage;
     * educating about production and economics; and
     * engaging in dialog on rural and farm-life issues.
     The proposal also calls for the ELCA Division for Outreach's
director for rural ministry and networking to continue ecumenical work
and to identify resources.
     In a related action Aug. 12, the assembly referred to that
division and to the ELCA Church Council a motion made by Leland V.
Eilert, a voting member from Minnesota.  His motion called for an
additional staff person to work with the director for rural ministry and
networking.
     Two changes to the Aug. 9 assembly action on Middle East tensions
add balance to that action, said Jack Sharlier, a voting members from
the ELCA's Metropolitan Chicago Synod, who proposed the additions. They
request the presiding bishop to send a letter to the United States
Ambassador to the United Nations, in which he urges that diplomatic
pressure be placed on those opposing peace in the Middle East; and
acknowledge the pain and suffering of all those involved in Middle East
tensions.
-- -- --
     Information about assembly actions is 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