wfn.org | ELCA Women Reflect on 'Listen, God Is Calling' Theme

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 12, 2002

ELCA WOMEN REFLECT ON 'LISTEN, GOD IS CALLING' THEME
WO-02-05-JB

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) must believe they each have gifts for ministry and must
allow God to use those gifts in new ways, said the Rev. Margaret G.
Payne, bishop of the ELCA New England Synod.
     Payne was the Bible study leader at the opening session of the
Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering here July 8-14 at the
Pennsylvania Convention Center.  The organization's three-year theme,
"Listen God is Calling" is being unveiled at the convention amid Bible
study, keynote addresses, workshops, field trips, business sessions and
elections.  More than 3,200 women from across the United States and
around the world are participating.
     The theme is drawn from the Book of Ephesians in the Christian
Bible.  Ephesians 4:11-12 speaks of how God gives different gifts to
people to equip them for ministry to build the body of Christ, Payne
said.  Each of the participants in the convention came here because they
listened, she said.
     "It is God who called you here," Payne said to the gathering.
"Despite the large group assembled, God first calls us individually and
each person responds differently."
     It is a challenge for each woman to believe she has gifts for
ministry, and it is a challenge to allow God to use those gifts, she
said.  "We can't be obedient to God's will in our lives until we see
ourselves as the gifted people.  This is a room full of gifted women and
God is itching to put you to work."
     Using gifts for ministry will put each person "on a journey of
self-discovery that will shape us into the best we can be," Payne said.
"The truth is that each of us have the potential to be shaped in a
variety of ways -- angels of mercy, warriors for justice, teachers,
preachers and mentors."
     "Hear that you are God's gifted people and that you are called to
new life," Payne concluded.
     In a sermon during evening worship July 11, the Rev. Mark S.
Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, preached on the Women of the ELCA theme,
urging the participants to listen actively to what God is saying to
them. "God is calling us to go into the world to witness to what God is
doing," he said.
     Lutherans should be bolder in proclaiming their faith to the
world. Many Lutherans are complacent when it comes to evangelism, Hanson
said.  "If we don't heed God's call to bring others to Christ, who
will?" he asked the gathering participants.  "It's time for our
complacency as Lutherans to be over."
     "Lead us into the world," Hanson urged the gathering.  "Lead to us
to say no to violence.  Lead us as you have led us in ending racism.
Lead us to be followers of Jesus the risen Christ."
     Hanson also urged Women of the ELCA to continue to teach the Bible
and faith to a world that is becoming increasingly "biblically
illiterate."
-- -- --
Editors: Photographs from Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering are
maintained at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/photos.html
on the Web.

News releases and other information about the gathering are maintained
at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/news.html on the Web.

For information, contact: Melissa Ramirez, newsroom manager,
(215) 418-2045 or mramirez@elca.org

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