Title: Lutherans Concerned Biennial Gathering ELCA NEWS SERVICE NEWSBRIEF July 30, 1996 LUTHERANS CONCERNED Assembly '96, the biennial gathering of Lutherans Concerned/North America, met July 12-14 at the University of California at Berkeley. About 200 lay people and clergy from the United States and Canada gathered. Bishop John Shelby Spong of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, N.J., was the keynote speaker. The assembly reflected the devastation felt by so many because of the loss of friends and loved ones to AIDS, said the Rev. James Lokken, St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco. At a liturgy of healing participants had an opportunity to sing, to mourn and to write on a scroll the names of those lost to AIDS. Business sessions of the assembly heard reports, elected officers and adopted resolutions. The assembly highlighted three priorities: increasing the number of Reconciled in Christ congregations openly welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals and couples into full participation; advocating the legitimization of same-sex unions; and seeking to change church policies that now exclude non-celibate gay and lesbian persons from ordination. Lutherans Concerned was founded 22 years ago. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955; Lia Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956