ELCA NEWS SERVICE April 19, 2004 ELCA Pastor 'Day 1' Speaker in May, June, July 04-065-NR*/JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ann Svennungsen, president of the Fund for Theological Education, Atlanta, and a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is the featured speaker May 2, June 6 and July 18 on "Day 1," a radio program broadcast on more than 150 stations nationwide. Day 1 is also broadcast on the American Forces Network to U.S. service men and women around the world and at http://www.day1.net on the Web. In January Svennungsen became president of the 50-year-old Fund for Theological Education, a national ecumenical organization with a two-fold purpose: encouraging young people to pursue careers in the ordained ministry and supporting people of color in theological education. Before that she spent seven years as pastor of the 3,700-member Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minn., the largest ELCA congregation to be led by a woman senior pastor. In her first sermon, Svennungsen talks about humankind's quest for security. "Even living good, clean lives doing all the right things, being fair and just and kind, not even these can guarantee security. We're not immune to disease, betrayal, accidents, corporate takeovers. Despite all our efforts we still remain vulnerable.. (Yet) in all of life's fragileness, one thing remains strong: You are held in God's hand, and no one can snatch that away from you." Each Day 1 program includes a sermon and brief interview with Svennungsen. A television version of Day 1 is also broadcast on the Hallmark Channel's "America at Worship" on Sunday mornings. Formerly known as "The Protestant Hour," Day 1 has been broadcast every week for nearly 59 years, winning numerous awards in the process, including the George Foster Peabody Award and the 2003 Communicator Award for excellence in inspirational radio. It is produced cooperatively by the ELCA, Episcopal Media Center, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and United Church of Christ. The executive producer for Day 1 is Peter Wallace. --- Information about Day 1, including affiliate information is available at http://www.Day1.net on the Web. * Nan Ross is publicist for Day 1. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news