Title: Lutheran World Federation Plan North American Desk ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEFS December 9, 1996 LWF DESK FOR NORTH AMERICA Canadian and U.S. Lutherans support a plan to establish a North America desk for the Lutheran World Federation. LWF is a Geneva- based communion of 56 million Lutherans in 122 member church bodies in 68 countries. North America is the only region among the seven LWF regions that doesn't have its own desk. Earlier proposals to establish such a desk were turned down because North American church leaders said it wasn't needed. Regional desks provide information about the LWF to churches in an area of the world as well as support projects in the region. The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, called the proposed desk "a breakthrough." He said such a regional desk would provide a "two-way channel of communication" and could facilitate the sharing of the gifts of LWF member churches with the ELCA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in areas such as outreach in mission, renewal in church life and the witness of the church in society. Anderson said it might also make possible new cooperative mission ventures by member churches and related agencies. The proposal, which came as part of a series of meetings Nov. 17-21 in Toronto preparing North American participants in the July 8-16 LWF Assembly in Hong Kong, didn't specify whether such a desk would be located on this continent or in Geneva. Women assembly participants from North America seconded a suggestion by Asian Lutheran women that a global prayer chain be launched to spiritually support the assembly. The plan calls for women in all LWF regions to offer a daily prayer for the welfare of the LWF Assembly and the people of Hong Kong. The assembly will be held one week after Hong Kong is ceded from Britain to China. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955 or [log in to unmask]; Melissa Ramirez, Assist. Dir., (312) 380-2956 or [log in to unmask]