wfn.org | ELCA Bishops Hope for New Orleans Meeting; Executive Reappointed

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 11, 2005

ELCA Bishops Hope for New Orleans Meeting; Executive Reappointed
05-192-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) agreed to hold its
spring 2006 meeting possibly in the New Orleans area to emphasize
the church's call to speak and work against poverty, hunger and
racism.
     Scheduling a meeting in the New Orleans-Mississippi Gulf
Coast area in March 2006 depends on availability of hotel space,
much of which is now being used by evacuees and relief workers in
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the bishops were told.
     The spring 2006 Conference of Bishops meeting will replace a
planned synodical/churchwide leaders gathering that would have
included the Conference of Bishops in Lake Geneva, Wis., March 3-
5.  The leaders' gathering may be moved to fall 2006.
     The conference agreed to the suggestion to consider meeting
in the Gulf Coast region from its Synodical-Churchwide Relations
Committee after several bishops questioned the need for a
synodical/churchwide leaders gathering in March 2006.
     "This is an opportunity for us to connect in a 'kairotic'
way with the situation in New Orleans," said the Rev. Ray
Tiemann, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Texas Synod, Seguin, and
committee chair.  In addition to the conference's regular agenda,
the bishops hope to talk with local residents and church leaders
about living conditions in the New Orleans area and on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast following this year's disaster.	Some
bishops expressed a desire to help residents rebuild while they
are there.
     The committee also said it hoped that a similar theme,
focusing on the church's response to poverty, racism and hunger,
could be included in significant churchwide events leading up to
a possible fall 2006 synodical/churchwide leadership gathering.
     The committee suggested planned meetings that could focus on
the themes, including a gathering of chief executive officers of
Lutheran institutions in Jacksonville, Fla., later this year; the
Conference of Bishops' Academy in January 2006; first meetings of
new churchwide program committees in February; the March meeting
of the Conference of Bishops; the ELCA Church Council meeting in
April; and synod assemblies next spring.

The Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich Reappointed
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, announced he
reappointed the Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich to a four-year term as
executive for synodical relations. Hanson said he made the
appointment in consultation with the Conference of Bishops
executive committee.
     Schwich, 51, was director of the former ELCA Department for
Synodical Relations, a position to which she was elected by the
ELCA Church Council in July 2000.  In the churchwide
restructuring proposals approved at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide
Assembly, the Office of the Presiding Bishop was given
responsibility for synodical relations and the assembly action
called for appointment of an executive for synodical relations.
     Schwich will continue her responsibilities provide staff
support for the Conference of Bishops.	She will relate to the
Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries, plan for synodical-
churchwide consultations and churchwide participation in synod
assemblies, and provide for a variety of services to synods.
     Born in Saginaw, Mich., Schwich is a graduate of the
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Saginaw Valley State
University, University Center, Mich.; and Luther-Northwestern
(now Luther) Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
     Following ordination in 1986, Schwich served as pastor of
congregations in Traverse City, Mich., and Park Ridge, Ill.  She
was director of church relations for Stephen Ministries, St.
Louis, and bishop's associate for developing a healthy
ministerium, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod.
     Schwich and her husband, the Rev. Daniel J. Schwick, also an
ELCA pastor, are parents of three sons.

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