ELCA NEWS SERVICE
June 19, 2007
ELCA to Offer Global Mission Event in Columbus, July 19-22
07-109-- LL*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America's (ELCA) Global Mission Event (GME) is July 19-22 at Ohio
State University, Columbus. Endorsed by the Episcopal Church and
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the event will draw
more than 2,000 people from the United States and around the
world. The theme for this year's event is "New Heaven and New
Earth."
"The GME is one of the few Lutheran events that is really
focused on global mission, and it's the only intergenerational
event. People from infants on up are invited, and we have
programming for all ages," said Sunitha Mortha, associate
director for global events and mission interpretation, ELCA
Global Mission.
The GME will feature 70 "Global University" sessions, global
music and worship, general sessions and three-part Global
University tracks. Participants can choose from five program
tracks that will offer extended sessions in the areas of asset
mapping, interfaith dialogue, sustainable development, cross-
cultural relationships and hunger connections. The tracks will
incorporate simulation games, lectures and small-group
discussion.
Immaculee Ilibagiza, survivor of the Rwandan Holocaust and
author of "Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan
Holocaust," will be the keynote speaker July 20. Four years
after the 1994 tragedy in Rwanda, Ilibagiza emigrated to the
United States and began working with the United Nations. She is
a member of the U.N. Development Program and founder of the Left
to Tell Charitable Fund.
"Immaculee's story is very powerful, coming from a
perspective of a person of faith. That someone who has suffered
so greatly can arrive at a place of forgiveness and
reconciliation brings hope when we are overwhelmed with the
suffering of the world," said Mortha.
The opening celebration will feature keynote speaker Grace
Wolf-Chase, a member of the astronomy faculty, Adler Planetarium
and Astronomy Museum, and senior research associate, Department
of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago. As a
member of the ELCA Task Force on Education, Wolf-Chase helped
draft the proposed social statement on education for the August
2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
Vitor Westhelle, professor of systematic theology, Lutheran
Theological Seminary at Chicago (LTSC), will lead a plenary Bible
study on the "New Heaven and New Earth" theme. Westhelle is the
author of "The Scandalous God: The Use and Abuse of the Cross."
Priscilla Singh, executive secretary, Women in Church and
Society for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), will kick off
the celebration of the LWF 60th anniversary July 21 by sharing
how LWF projects engage people around the world to become
stewards of precious water resources. A panel of participants,
including LWF Council Member David Pfrimmer, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada, will deepen the discussion.
The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition, with 140 member churches in 78 countries
throughout the world, representing nearly 66.7 million
Christians. It is based in Geneva.
Also on July 21, participants will have the opportunity to
attend a cultural celebration and 'global fair' where they can
sample flavors, sounds, sights and smells from around the world.
There will be a presentation of global music and dance, and
celebration of the service and commitment of current and former
ELCA missionaries attending the GME. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
presiding bishop of the ELCA and LWF president, will preach at
the closing worship service on July 22.
Each year participants can buy a tote bag to commemorate
their presence at the GME. The 2007 bags were designed by
MayaWorks, a group of artisans from the highlands of Guatemala.
MayaWorks' goal is to create sustainable work for artisans year
round and ensure that artisans are paid a fair wage in the local
context.
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An audio report is available at
http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/070614.mp3
Audio of Mortha's comments is available
http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/070614a.mp3.
More information about the Global Mission Event is available
at http://www.ELCA.org/gme on the Web.
* Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech
communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
