ELCA Department for Communication, News & Information
8765 West Higgins Rd, Chicago, IL 60631 800/638-3522 ext. 2963
HEADLINES FOR ELCA NEWS RELEASE ISSUE #04, February 16, 1995
-- PEACE TASK FORCE COMPLETES DRAFT
-- 1994 ELCA COLLEGE ENROLLMENT
-- SEMINARIES SHOW SLIGHT, SIGNIFICANT SHIFTS
-- NEW MEDICAL PLAN "OFF TO GOOD START"
February 16, 1995
PEACE TASK FORCE COMPLETES DRAFT
95-04-012-AH
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Trust in God alone to bring the eternal reign
of peace. God, the church and the world are involved in a complex
relationship that seeks "earthly peace" but motivates Christians to seek
"earthly peace," according to the final draft of a proposed social
statement created by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The
church's 16-member Task Force on Peace completed three years of
work on "For Peace in God's World," a statement on international peace,
at a Feb. 10-12 meeting here.
The final draft will go to the ELCA's Division for Church in Society
(DCS) board and the Church Council for consideration prior to the
Churchwide Assembly in August. Task force members are expected to
sign off on the document by mail in the coming weeks.
The final draft emphasizes the church's role in sustaining a
culture of peace. Statements on war and peace were developed by the
ELCA's predecessor church bodies in the 1980s. "They came at the tail
of a major build-up of nuclear weapons, with increasing tension and
sense of threat," according to task force co-chair Katherine M. Kidd,
Fairfield, Conn. "The focus then was on security issues and weapons
systems."
Kidd said, "Today's statement talks about peace and moves the
church's focus to how we build peace and prevent conflict." The draft
sets fourth a theological understanding of earthly peace in and among
nations. It speaks of the cultural, economic and political dimensions of
peace.
"Just as the church has been preaching the gospel for 2,000
years, we are still talking about peace and justice as the church has for
2,000 years," Kidd said. The draft statement "calls people to be faithful in
their pursuit of peace, something the church has to do perpetually," she
added.
Kidd said, "I hope this document will allow people to look at old
tools in a new way, such as our liturgy and the centrality of its message
of peace. We hope we can help the church recapture that. For this
generation of Lutherans it might be new. In a war situation, do our
congregations pray for our enemies? Did we actually pray for the Iraqi
soldiers? The FMLN guerrillas? Do we pray for the North Koreans? I
don't think we often do, though our theology says we should."
The task force struggled most with a section on decisions about
wars. The statement offers a contemporary view of the "just/unjust
war" tradition by giving new place to nonviolent alternatives. It also
recognizes pacifism as a necessary voice in our church. Just war
principles include: right intention, justifiable cause, legitimate authority,
last resort, declaration of war aims, proportionality, and reasonable
chance of success.
"What is different," according to Kidd, "is the statement's clear call
for nonviolent action. It is stronger than before in the Lutheran church.
The newness is in the balance between use of the just-war principles
and nonviolent alternatives to war."
In discussion of the point where force might be required to
protect the innocent, Kidd told the task force, "We need to be sure
minority voices have been heard. Yes, we have a normative position ...
but we may have to reiterate the obvious, because for some people it
isn't obvious. Some people don't make the presumption of last resort
before war."
According to the Rev. John R. Stumme, DCS associate director
for studies, about 500 people around the country took part in 21 hearings
conducted on a previous draft of the statement since September.
Stumme characterized most of the responses as "mixed" -- containing
both positive and negative comments. He said, "In a draft that
emphasizes building peace, what it said about war was the most
controversial issue of substance."
Some letters to the division praise the document's biblical and
theological perspective stance. One writer noted it "is a balanced
statement, which recognizes the complexities of the peace issue and its
intimate connection to the question of justice.
"It allows Christians of conscience to differ," another wrote.
"More than ever before, this social statement affirms the
nonviolent choice for the church in the face of war," was another
comment.
Others were critical. "Our church needs to become focused on
ministry, not social engineering and political correctness," said one.
Another wrote, "Too many pacifist Lutherans have to go outside their
(church) to be able to live out their faith in community."
Kidd said the task force's work was "a positive, not a divisive
process," and emphasized "the breadth of opinion in the group and the
honest debate, the willingness to compromise and find common ground."
The ELCA Churchwide Asembly, the church's chief legislative body,
must approve all statements on major social issues.
##########
February 16, 1995
1994 ELCA COLLEGE ENROLLMENT
95-04-013-LC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 29 colleges and universities of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America opened the 1994-95 academic
year in September with an enrollment of 44,064 full-time students and
8,710 part-time students -- a total of 52,774.
The number of full-time students represented a modest decline of
76 (0.2 percent) from the 1993-94 academic year figure of 44,140.
Fifteen institutions saw their enrollments rise while 13 remained constant
or declined.
Upsala College, East Orange, N.J., facing a severe financial
strain, cut its student body significantly. Its enrollment represents a
decline of 327 people (31.6 percent) from the prior year.
The other institution reporting a large decline was Suomi College
in Hancock, Mich., where there was a loss of 123 (25.5 percent)
students. No other gains or losses exceeded 6.0 percent.
Part-time enrollment declined by 278 (3.1 percent) and
represented the fourth consecutive year of decline in this population.
The enrollment of students of color dropped from 4,058 to 3,996,
a dip of 62 (1.5 percent). This decline was primarily the result of an
enrollment drop at Upsala College, which saw its enrollment of students
of color decline by 178 students. Nineteen of the 29 colleges and
universities saw their numbers increase in this category. The 3,996
students enrolled represent 9.1 percent of the total full-time enrollment.
The decline this year is the first since 1986.
International students represent 3.1 percent of total enrollment.
These 1,351 students come predominantly from Asia (591), Europe (438)
and Africa (136). The total for the fall of 1994 represents a decline of 97
(6.7 percent) from the fall of 1993 and represents the third straight year
that these numbers have declined. This decline is at least partly the
result of declining financial aid resources for international students from
developing world settings.
The enrollment of Lutheran students totaled 14,291 or 32.4
percent of the whole. That's a decline from 14,437 in the fall of 1993.
###########
February 16, 1995
SEMINARIES SHOW SLIGHT, SIGNIFICANT SHIFTS
95-04-014-FI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- There are more women, people of color and
Lutherans enrolled in master of divinity courses this academic year than
last at the eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. More of the seminarians are over 39 years of age too.
Statistics gathered by the ELCA Division for Ministry report 1,618
students currently working toward a master of divinity (M.Div.) degree --
the minimum degree required of ELCA clergy. That's a slight drop in total
enrollment from 1,626 in 1993-94. That total grew from 1,535 in 1991-92
to 1,631 in 1992-93.
The M.Div. program usually requires a bachelor's degree and four
years of seminary education, with a parish internship during the third
year. ELCA seminaries report 371 Lutherans in their first year of study,
406 in their second year, 347 on internship and 341 in the Class of `95.
GENDER
There were 725 women enrolled in ELCA M.Div. programs in
1994-95 -- 44.8 percent of the total. That percentage has steadily
increased in recent years -- 43.4 percent to 43.8 percent and 44.4
percent.
Another 79 women make up 18.5 percent of the 427 students
pursuing degrees other than the M.Div. degree at ELCA seminaries.
The ELCA has ordained women into the clergy since 1970.
NON-LUTHERAN
The number of Lutherans enrolled in ELCA M.Div. programs rose
from 1,437 to 1,465. The 1994-95 enrollment includes 153
non-Lutherans, or 9.5 percent of the total, compared to 189 or 11.6
percent in 1993-94. There were 91 non-Lutheran students in M.Div.
programs in 1988-89, making up 6.1 percent of the total enrollment.
AGE
Thirty-seven percent of the students in ELCA M.Div. programs are
in their 20s, 27 percent are in their 30s, 26.8 percent are in their 40s, and
8.9 percent are 50 to 64 years of age.
In recent years the number of seminarians in their 20s hovered
from 39.2 percent in 1991-92, to 35.2 percent in 1992-93, and 36.5
percent in 1993-94. The number of those in their 30s slid from 33.3
percent to 32.7 percent and 29.4. The number of those in their 40s rose
from 21.6 percent to 22.7 percent and 26 percent. The number of those
older than 49 ranged from 5.3 percent to 8.8 percent and 7.3 percent.
The number of M.Div. students in their 20s ranged from 602 in
1991-92, to 574 in 1992-93, and from 593 in 1993-94, to 599 in 1994-95.
The number of students in their 30s moved from 511 to 533 and from 478
to 438. The number of students in their 40s rose from 331 to 368 and
from 422 to 434. The number of students over 49 years of age
fluctuated from 89 to 144 and from 119 back to 144.
RACE
The number of Caucasian Lutherans in ELCA M.Div. programs
rose from 1,383 in 1993-94 to 1,405 in 1994-95, and the number of those
of other races rose from 54 to 60. ELCA seminaries recorded 28
African-American, 19 Hispanic, seven Asian and one Native American
Lutherans in current M.Div. programs; and five "others" are listed also.
The percentage of Lutherans of color enrolled in ELCA M.Div.
programs rose from 3.1 percent in 1987-88 to 3.8 percent in 1993-94 and
4.1 percent in 1994-95.
About 2 percent of the ELCA's 5.2 million members are people of
color or whose primary language is not English.
ELCA seminaries:
+ Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.;
+ Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago;
+ Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa.;
+ Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia;
+ Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C.;
+ Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif.;
+ Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio; and
+ Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.
##########
February 16, 1995
NEW MEDICAL PLAN "OFF TO GOOD START"
95-04-015-RK
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The new "point of service" health plan
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is "off to a good start,"
Kathryn Helmke told ELCA Board of Pensions trustees at their quarterly
meeting here Feb. 11-12.
Helmke, the board#s vice president for medical and dental
administration, said that in its first month of operation 2,105 claims had
been filed with Aetna and 243 authorizations were made by Healthmarc.
Aetna and Healthmarc are contracted to provide claims service to the
roughly half of church plan members who live in areas covered by the
point of service plan.
She also reported that of the 11,419 enrolled in the Aetna plan by
the end of January some 84 percent had selected a primary care
physician. Members are required to have their health care provided or
coordinated by these doctors in order to receive enhanced benefits
under the program.
In other action, the ELCA Board of Pensions trustees:
*Noted that investment results for all assets under management during
1994 were down 1.5 percent, primarily due to underperformance in the
bond market. The trustees' investment committee noted, however,
results for total funds over the past four years are up 10.8 percent
annually or nearly half a percentage point above the target benchmarks.
The ELCA Board of Pensions manages more than $2.6 billion in
investments.
*Heard that a toll-free telephone service would be implemented by the
board effective April 1 as a pilot program for plan members in Arizona,
Michigan, North Dakota and Pennsylvania.
*Heard a report on the impact of the new federal Family Medical Leave
Act (FMLA), which requires employers who have 50 or more employees
to give 12-weeks unpaid leave for various family situations including the
birth of a child. The Benefits Committee authorized board of pensions
staff #to make interim administrative accommodations to ELCA-affiliated
employers that choose to comply with FMLA requirements.
*Approved guidelines for investing in commercial mortgage-backed
securities. It also heard that the board#s investment funds had earned
$930,000 through securities lending during the past year.
*Heard that as a result of a plan change allowing members who have
other medical insurance to drop the board's coverage, some 500
members (about 3 percent) have waived their medical coverage, though
keeping pension, disability and survivor benefits coverage. This is
coupled with an increase of new enrollments in the program because
bundled medical coverage is no longer required.
*Recommended trimming the list of outpatient procedures requiring
pre-certification. Advance approval would no longer be required for
cataract removal, hammertoe repair, strabismus repair and tonsillectomy
and adenoidectomy. Also attention deficit disorders would no longer be
included on the list of treatments requiring pre-certification. These
changes would become effective when adopted by the ELCA Church
Council.
The board's next meeting is scheduled here for May 11-12.
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