ELCA NEWS SERVICE November 5, 2008 ELCA Presiding Bishop Appeals to President-Elect Obama 08-183-JD CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), congratulated President-elect Barack Obama on his election and appealed to him to establish priorities for his administration. The presiding bishop wrote in a Nov. 5 public statement that Scripture is clear about what should matter to Christians: "hospitality to strangers, concern for people in poverty, peacemaking and care for creation." In the statement, Hanson wrote, "I appeal to President-elect Obama to establish the following priorities for his administration: + a response to the current economic crisis with special focus on low-income people + a robust diplomatic effort to restore U.S. credibility abroad + a fulfillment of the promised U.S. funding share of the Millennium Development Goals + strong support for alternative energy research to end our dependence on oil and establish a new green economy + fair and humane immigration reform + serious re-engagement with a peace process for Palestinians and Israelis Hanson asked ELCA members to work with the new administration across the "broad spectrum of Lutheran partnerships and networks." Hanson encouraged public discourse and engagement of the issues with members of the U.S. Congress and the new administration. "We [ELCA members] bring to the public square a longstanding and effective commitment to serve our neighbors and a conviction that government is instrumental in God's purpose for humanity when public officials work for justice, peace, order and the common good," Hanson wrote. Hanson also expressed gratitude to U.S. Sen. John McCain (R- Ariz.) for "his continuing commitment to public service" and commended both Obama and McCain for "participating in our nation's democratic process, which serves our venerable tradition of the peaceful transfer of power." --- The full text of Presiding Bishop Hanson's statement is at http://www.ELCA.org/bishopstatement on the ELCA Web site. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog