ELCA NEWS SERVICE September 22, 2005 ELCA Presiding Bishop Marks 10th Anniversary of Peace Statement 05-177-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted the social statement, "For Peace in God's World," Aug. 20, 1995, at its Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis. Commemorating the 10th anniversary of that decision, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, issued a letter Sept. 21. "The International Day of Peace on September 21 offers a fitting opportunity to renew our commitment to pray and work for peace in these troubled times," Hanson wrote. He cited the statement's focus on international peace, basing Christian efforts for earthly peace on "the peace of God's eternal reign." "This church has actively participated in the Decade to Overcome Violence initiative of the World Council of Churches," the bishop wrote. At the request of 23 Nobel Peace Laureates, "the United Nations designated the period 2001-2010 as the Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence and Peace for the Children of the World." Hanson called attention to the work of an ELCA task force developing and helping to implement goals and ELCA activities during the Decade, especially the development of an Equipping for Peacemaking Network. "With the generous support of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the task force sponsored a training event to equip trainers for peacemaking. More than 40 members of ELCA congregations from all nine regions of the church were selected from a pool of 300 applicants," Hanson wrote. "The goals of the event were: nurturing and strengthening peacemakers in their ability to share skills, insights and stories about peacemaking and nonviolence; fostering and supporting an appropriate spirituality for such efforts; and equipping ELCA members to examine their own lifestyles and their congregation's practices to better contribute to justice and nonviolence," he wrote. "The leaders who attended the training event continue to replicate their experiences holding similar events," Hanson wrote. "I encourage you and members of your congregation to join the Network." -- -- -- The text of ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's letter is at http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/m_050921.html on the Internet. The social statement, "For Peace in God's World," is at http://www.ELCA.org/socialstatements/peace/ on the ELCA Web site. Information about the ELCA's Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence is at http://www.ELCA.org/nonviolence/ and about the Decade to Overcome Violence initiative of the World Council of Churches is at http://www.overcomingviolence.org on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news