ELCA NEWS SERVICE April 21, 2004 ELCA Council Reaffirms 'Stand With Africa' 04-072-MR CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) affirmed the continuation of "Stand With Africa" as a second-mile- giving opportunity and reaffirmed the ELCA's commitment to accompany companion churches and partner agencies in Africa. The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here April 17-18. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, 2005, in Orlando, Fla. "Stand With Africa: A Campaign of Hope" began as a three- year Lutheran campaign in 2000. The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly affirmed the campaign, designed to call on individuals, congregations, the 65 synods of the church and the churchwide organization to focus on issues significant to Africa, including HIV/AIDS, food security, and peace and reconciliation. The campaign builds upon and extends the relief and development work in Africa funded by the ELCA World Hunger Appeal through the ELCA Division for Global Mission, Division for Church in Society and Division for Congregational Ministries. To date $2.7 million has been raised. At their 2004 spring meetings, the boards of each division affirmed the continuation of "Stand With Africa." Through its resolution, the council expressed thanks to members, congregations and synods of the ELCA for "standing with Africa" through increased giving, education and advocacy in the past three years; requested that ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson express the church's "commitment and thanks" to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) for their "collaboration" and called on members of the ELCA to continue their support of Stand With Africa. LWR works overseas in relief and development on behalf of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. The ELCA is a member of LWF; Hanson serves as LWF president. --- Information about Stand With Africa is at http://www.elca.org/hunger/StandWithAfrica2.html on the ELCA Web site. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news