wfn.org | ELCA Board Asks Council for Statement on Iraq

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 29, 2002

ELCA BOARD ASKS COUNCIL FOR STATEMENT ON IRAQ
02-253-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board for the Division for Global Mission of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) asked the ELCA Church
Council to consider adopting a public statement for the church on the
tense situation between the U.S. government and the government of Iraq
headed by Saddam Hussein.  The board met here Oct. 17-19.
     In its resolution, the board also said it "affirms and supports
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's statement, witness and
leadership" on the issue.  In an Aug. 30 statement, Hanson spoke
publicly in support of peace and against a pre-emptive military strike
against Iraq.
     The board asked, if the council does adopt a public statement on
Iraq, that it consider transmitting it to President George W. Bush,
according to the resolution.  It suggested that such a public statement
be similar to the principles cited by Hanson, and that it incorporate
principles contained in the ELCA social statement "For Peace in God's
World" in support of international efforts for peace.
     The board's resolution asked that the council "invite ELCA
members, congregations and synods to pray for peace, the people of Iraq,
leaders of the United States and our military personnel and their
families."
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as
the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide
assemblies.  The council's next meeting is here Nov. 15-17.  Assemblies
are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, 2001, in Indianapolis.
     In a separate resolution, the board also asked the council to
consider issues related to HIV/AIDS in Africa.
     The board recommended to the Church Council that the ELCA
"consider bringing to the attention of pharmaceutical companies in which
the ELCA holds corporate shares the need for them to support national
and international efforts to make generic antiretroviral (ARV) drugs
accessible to persons living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries."  It
asked that the council raise with government officials the need for U.S.
policy to reflect such concerns, the resolution said.
     The board asked that the council continue to request ELCA members
to respond through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal to a variety of human
needs in Africa, including drought and famine; it asked the council to
"build better awareness of these issues throughout the ELCA; and it
encouraged the council to request that "ecumenical bodies" in which the
ELCA participates and their members take similar actions.
     In other actions the DGM board:
     + heard that the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, the fund-raising arm of
the ELCA World Hunger program, has decreased its goal for 2002 to $16
million, said the Rev. John L. Halvorson, coordinator for the ELCA World
Hunger Program, Division for Church in Society. The goal for 2002 was
originally set at $16.5 million, but has fallen behind budget
projections.  Halvorson thanked key leaders and partners for their
support of the program.
     + elected the Rev. Virginia Anderson-Larson, director for
spiritual formation and field education, Wartburg Theological Seminary,
Dubuque, Iowa, secretary for the board.  She replaced the Rev. Wilma S.
Kucharek, who resigned this year when she was elected bishop of the ELCA
Slovak Zion Synod.  Anderson-Larson will serve the remainder of
Kucharek's term.  New board officers are to be elected in March.
     + adopted a 2003 spending plan of $28,263,300 for the division.
     + participated in the ELCA strategic planning process, led by the
Rev. Charles S. Miller, ELCA executive for administration and executive
assistant to the presiding bishop.  The board also discussed a first
draft of a possible evangelism strategy for the ELCA.

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