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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 21, 2004

ELCA Task Force On Education Readies Study Materials
04-174-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A task force of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) finished its work on materials that will help the church's
10,657 congregations study issues around "a Lutheran vision of education"
in advance of developing a social statement on education.  The ELCA Task
Force on Education completed "Our Calling in Education: A Lutheran Study"
at its meeting here Sept. 10-12.
     "The purpose of the study document is to provide a framework for
discussion and a means of engaging broad and deep conversation across the
church," said Dr. Paul J. Dovre, former president, Concordia College,
Moorhead, Minn., and task force co-chair.
     "We hope the study brings many audiences within the ELCA to dialogue
about education in all its diversity and to engage in discussions about
our calling in education," said Christi Lines, principal, St. Paul's
Lutheran School, Waverly, Iowa, and task force co-chair.
     The board of the ELCA Division for Church in Society appointed the
16-member task force in 2003.  The Rev. John R. Stumme, the division's
director for studies, will present the study materials to the board when
it meets here Oct. 21-23.  The approved study materials will be available
to congregations by the end of 2004, he said.
     The study materials include a response form, asking congregations to
send their comments to the task force by Oct. 1, 2005.	"The task force
hopes that during the first nine months of 2005 there will be a lot of
discussion of the ideas and tentative proposals in the study," Stumme
said.
     "The feedback from the study will guide us as we write the first
draft of the social statement," Lines said.  The task force plans to have
the first draft of a proposed social statement ready in 2006 and a final
draft in 2007.
     The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly called for a social statement on
education.  The board of the Division for Church in Society, which directs
the development of social statements, approved the timeline for the
presentation of a proposed social statement on education to the 2007 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly.
     "During its first four meetings, the task force has been striving to
clarify its own thinking on the vital issues of education in our church
and society," Stumme said.  "Now the task force wants to hear from others
in our church.	The study is a means for broadening the discussion,
listening to the concerns and ideas of others, and encouraging
conversation on education throughout our church," he said.
     The DCS board defined the four purposes of the possible social
statement:
+ present a Lutheran vision of education for our time
+ address issues of education and schooling for children and young people
in our society, with attention to purpose and quality, equity and access
for all, responsibilities, and religion's role in public schooling
+ set forth an understanding of our church's own educational institutions
(preschool, primary and secondary schools, and colleges and universities)
+ consider our church's ministries in relation to public schools and
universities and the vocation of Christians involved in education in
different roles.
     The study materials will help ELCA members to consider education from
their calling as Christians and to work for sound educational systems and
policies within the church and society, Stumme said.
     The churchwide assembly is the ELCA's chief legislative authority.
It meets every two years.  The next assembly will be held Aug. 8-14, 2005,
at the Marriott World Center, Orlando, Fla.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news