ELCA NEWS SERVICE
ELCA Assembly Welcomes LMM President 07-CWA-039-JI
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Heber Rast, president of Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), said that the LMM board unanimously approved a resolution "strongly endorsing" a new five-year Bible-study initiative for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
LMM is the ELCA's men's ministry.
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 1,069 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
"For many years, Bible study has been the heart of our Master Builders Program," Rast told the assembly. He said that LMM program carries out the ministry's vision that "every man has a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective men's ministry in each of our congregations."
Rast said that 40,000 copies of LMM's "Master Builder's Bible for Men" are "in the hands of our men, many of whom are engaged in serious Bible study for the first time in their lives."
He also reported that:
+ "Coming of Age," the LMM's book detailing work with young men, is now in its third printing.
+ A "Building for the Future Men's Leadership Summit" held here prior to the churchwide assembly was "very successful."
+ An LMM endowment fund stands at about 65 percent of its $1.5 million goal.
+ "One Year to Live," an LMM weekend-retreat format currently in pilot testing, "will offer a groundbreaking event for deepening men's faith."
+ the ELCA Church Council recently approved LMM's Articles of Incorporation, in line with the men's ministry's plan to move toward separate incorporation.
"We want to equip our men so that their faith, their relationships and their ministry are all strengthened," Rast said.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news