Title: Bitner Elected Chair of ELCA Division for Church in Society
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 1, 2001

BITNER ELECTED CHAIR OF ELCA DIVISION FOR CHURCH IN SOCIETY
01-039-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Denver W. Bitner, Zion Lutheran
Church, Rockford, Ill., will chair the board of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Church in Society
(DCS) for two years, beginning in August.  The board elected Bitner
when it met here Feb. 22-24.
     Bitner will succeed the Rev. James M. Childs Jr., director of
academic development and professor of theology and ethics, Trinity
Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio.  Childs will continue as board
chair through the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which meets Aug. 8-14 in
Indianapolis.
     The board elected the Rev. Carol A. Jensen, St. John Lutheran
Church, Seattle, to become its vice chair.
     The Rev. Charles S. Miller is the division's executive
director.
     The Division for Church in Society helps the ELCA understand
and respond sensitively and effectively to the needs of human beings,
society and the environment.  It studies social issues and prepares
social statements for the ELCA's consideration and action.  It
coordinates the ELCA World Hunger Program and ELCA Domestic Disaster
Response.
     DCS helps ELCA congregations with programs that assist poor
persons gain economic independence.  The division is responsible for
domestic refugee concerns and relates to Lutheran Immigration and
Refugee Service and other international agencies.
     The division is responsible for the ELCA's ministry of service
through some 260 affiliated social ministry organizations.  It grants
and maintains church affiliation with these organizations and
develops a comprehensive delivery system among social ministry
organizations, congregations and community organizations.
     DCS carries out the ELCA's advocacy with national and
international governmental bodies and with institutions in the
private sector and coordinates its advocacy with state governments.
-- -- --
     The ELCA Division for Church in Society maintains a site at
http://www.elca.org/DCS/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html