wfn.org | ELCA Presiding Bishop Attends Prayer Session with Bush

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 10, 2002

ELCA PRESIDING BISHOP ATTENDS PRAYER SESSION WITH BUSH
02-217-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was among a group of 25
clergy who met with and prayed with President George W. Bush Sept. 6 at
the White House.
     The off-the-record conversation was held at the start of "National
Days of Prayer and Remembrance," proclaimed by Bush, Hanson said.  In
making the proclamation, Bush asked congregations and faith groups
across the country to remember the anniversary of Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks on the United States.
     White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said the gathering with
religious leaders was intended to kick off the three-day period from
Sept. 6 to Sept. 8 during which Bush suggested that houses of worship
ring their bells, hold candlelight remembrance vigils and other memorial
services to honor those who died and pray for those who were grieving,
according to a Sept. 9 Religion News Service (RNS) report.
     Represented at the meeting were officials from the Christian,
Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist traditions, RNS reported.  Bush will
attend Sept. 11 observances in New York, Arlington, Va., and
Shanksville, Pa.
     ELCA leaders and members will gather in the communities impacted
directly by last year's terrorist attacks.  The Rev. Stephen P. Bouman,
bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod, preached Sept. 8 at St.
Peter Lutheran Church, Manhattan, N.Y.	Bouman also preached at an
ecumenical service on Sept. 10 at the Interchurch Center, Manhattan.
     The Rev. Theodore F. Schneider, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan
Washington, D.C., Synod, will attend an interfaith "Service of
remembrance" at the National Cathedral, Washington, on Sept. 11.  Later
that day, Schneider will preach at Hope Lutheran Church, Annandale, Va.
     Members of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Shanksville, Pa. and St. Paul
Lutheran Church, Buckstown, Pa., together known as Good Shepherd
Cooperative Lutheran Ministry, will hold a Service of Remembrance Sept.
11 in Buckstown.  Both congregations were within four miles of the
United Flight 93 crash site.

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