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Title: African American and Hispanic Consultations ELCA NEWS SERVICE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC CONSULTATIONS About 70 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gathered in Chicago Jan. 19-21 for "Making Christ Known Throughout the Village that Raises the Child," an African American Consultation. The Rev. Eric T. Campbell, ELCA director for African American and Synodical Ministries said the consultation was a time to do some strategic planning "about how we, as African Americans in the church, can be pro-active." Participants generated a list "of what African-American Lutherans need," said Campbell, including: a communication and support network, to be accountable to each other, healing, stronger congregations, to empower lay people and to support the African American Lutheran Association and make it self-sufficient. Consultation participants met in four groups to brainstorm for future possibilities: for healing, the communication network, congregation building and the African American Lutheran Association. Campbell works in the ELCA's Commission for Multicultural Ministries. On Jan. 22-23 about 18 people gathered for a Hispanic Ministries Consultation. The Rev. Gregory J. Villal#n, bishop of the ELCA's Caribbean Synod coordinated the consultation. Villal#n assumes the position of ELCA director for Hispanic Ministries and Leadership Ministries, May 1. A Native American Gathering and Consultation was held Jan. 25-28 in Las Vegas. Kathleen Fleury is director of ELCA Native American Ministries. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2058; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955; Lia Christiansen, Assit. Dir., (312) 380-2956