ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 10, 2007
ELCA Assembly Receives Greetings from Ecumenical Guests 07-CWA-029-LL*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- During the 7th plenary session of the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 9, representatives from church bodies in full communion with the ELCA extended their greetings to assembly voting members.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall. About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,068 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
The Rev. Gary L. Harke, executive director, Pennsylvania Council of Churches, spoke to the assembly on behalf of the Moravian Church in North America. "We have a long way to go in our relationship to strengthen our call to become mutual colleagues, but all join me in blessing your work with us," said Harke.
The Rev. Harold Delhagen, Pultneyville Reformed Church, Pultneyville, N.Y., addressed the assembly on behalf of the Reformed Churches, which includes the United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and Reformed Church in America. "We are family engaged in a sacred relationship, and I come to you with deep gratitude for a full communion relationship," said Delhagen.
Bishop Christopher Epting, deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations, spoke to the assembly on behalf of the Episcopal Church. "While some of us continue to be envious of Lutherans and have much to learn, we too are grateful for our full communion relationship with you," said Epting.
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Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
* Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog