Title: ELCA Presiding Bishop Shares Signs of Hope ELCA NEWS SERVICE July 13, 1996 BISHOP ANDERSON: SIGNS OF HOPE 96-WO-14-LC MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America play an important role in congregations and in their communities, said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA. Anderson addressed 5,700 women here during Women of the ELCA#s Third Triennial Convention. The convention is meeting here July 11-14 under the theme, #Proclaim God#s Peace.# Anderson thanked the organization for its gift each year. Women of the ELCA#s $3,900,670 budget contains a $1 million gift to the ELCA. Anderson said the #ELCA turned a corner in life of this church,# last year. He credits the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom, bishop of the ELCA from 1988 to 1995 for #his steady, persevering leadership that brought us through those days.# In his first year as presiding bishop, Anderson#s first priority is to visit all 65 synods of the ELCA. In meetings with pastors and lay leaders thus far Anderson has seen signs of hope that he puts into four categories. First, he says, the statistics look better. Adult baptisms have increased. Mission support for the first time in the life of the ELCA has increased from the year before. With more funds, #we were able to do some things immediately: two new medical missionaries, new mission starts, plus other expanded ministry opportunities,# he said. The second is women in leadership. #When I ask pastors what has changed in this church since they began their ministry, this is the number one reason given as a sign of hope,# he said. Anderson pointed to the Rev. Bonnie L. Jensen, executive director of the ELCA#s Division for Global Mission and Wyvetta Bullock, executive director of the Division for Congregational Ministries, leaders in the ELCA. Women #not simply add diversity to ministry, but a richer, profound understanding of the gospel.# North American Lutherans began ordaining women in 1970. Innovations in worship is a third sign of hope. Anderson said he sees a new spirit in worship -- a #sense of the kind of rich diverse church we#re going to become.# The fourth sign of hope is youth. We have a tremendous youth program, said Anderson. #Our National Youth Gathering is the largest in the country# and brought 34,000 youth to Atlanta in 1994. Anderson attended a recent regional youth gathering in Anaheim, Calif., that attracted 4,000 people. #Youth today are more interested in servant events than pizza and volleyball,# he said, noting that those youth had forgone workshops to pick up trash along 40 miles of beach. Anderson relayed a story he heard from that youth gathering. A young unchurched boy saw the 4,000 youth cleaning the beach and said to his grandparents, #If those are church people, then I want to go to church.# In closing, he said: #If the state of this church is good enough for people to say, #I want to be part of that# then we will accomplish what God put us on this earth to do.# Ecumenical and Lutheran guests are present at the convention. They were formally welcomed on stage July 12. Representing the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod were Pat Schutte, El Cajon, Calif., and Bev Erdmann, Crookston, Minn. Jane Van Hoven, Winston Salem, N.C. is from the Provincial Women#s Board, Southern Province, the Moravian Church in America. Carol Lou Phillips, Tallahassee, Fla., secretary of the Churchwide Coordinating Team represents Presbyterian Women. Carol Q. Cosby, Indianapolis, is from the Social Action Ministries Staff, International Women#s Fellowship, Disciples of Christ. Representing Church Women United are President Susan Mix, Lynchberg, Va., and Minnesota President Dolores Seashore, Edina. Gini Peterson of Stone Mountain, Ga., is here for the Episopal Church. 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