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Title: ELCA to Celebrate Ecumenical Decade ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEFS December 9, 1996 ELCA TO CELEBRATE ECUMENICAL DECADE The international "Ecumenical Decade of the Churches in Solidarity with Women" is coming to an end in 1998. The Commission for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America wants the decade to end with a bang. At its November meeting the ELCA Church Council adopted a resolution drafted by the commission's steering committee. It calls on the commission to "assist this church as it observes the end of the Ecumenical Decade through the expressions, organizations and events of this church, including but not limited to the 1997 Churchwide Assembly, the 1998 synod assemblies and congregations, as well as through partner organizations and ecumenical efforts during the next two years." The ELCA holds a churchwide assembly every other year, and each of its 65 synods meet in assembly each spring. The World Council of Churches launched the decade on Easter 1988. Its purpose is to call for the full participation of women in all expressions of the church and to support women suffering from violence, hatred and economic injustice. The WCC is a fellowship of 330 churches, including the ELCA, in more than 100 countries on all continents from virtually all Christian traditions. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955 or [log in to unmask]; Melissa Ramirez, Assist. Dir., (312) 380-2956 or [log in to unmask]