Title: ELCA Holds Forum on Poverty, Wealth November 7-9
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 22, 2002

ELCA HOLDS FORUM ON POVERTY, WEALTH NOVEMBER 7-9
02-247-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) will host a forum on the relationship between poverty and wealth,
considering the effects of current and future U.S. legislation on people
living in poverty.  The forum will be held here Nov. 7-9 at the
Institute of Cultural Affairs Conference Center.
     The forum will bring together a "diverse" group of ELCA members,
ecumenical and international guests to examine the church's activity on
combating poverty, explore opportunities for advocacy, and address the
impact of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States on
poverty-related work in the ELCA.
     "The forum is taking place at a time when new reports from the
U.S. census bureau indicate an increase in people living in poverty and
one of the biggest losses of personal income, primarily among middle-
class White families, since 1991," said Loretta E. Horton, director for
social ministries for congregations, ELCA Division for Congregational
Ministries.
     Horton said the forum is the first gathering in which members of
the ELCA not only address the topic of poverty but "poverty in
relationship to wealth."
     "In the midst of recent instability with the stock market and
downturn in the economy, there are some sectors in this country that
have not been affected by the economic slumps.  We still have massive
poverty in the midst of wealth and over-abundance.  That is a justice
issue that the church must respond to not only domestically but
internationally," Horton said.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, will open
the forum.  Presenters include the Rev. H. George Anderson, former
presiding bishop of the ELCA, Prospect Heights, Ill.; Damu Smith,
coordinator of Black Voices for Peace, Washington, D.C.; the Rev.
Charles S. Miller, ELCA executive for administration and executive
assistant to the presiding bishop; the Rev. Mark R. Moller-Gunderson and
the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive directors, ELCA Division for
Congregational Ministries.
     Anderson will outline the history of the Lutheran church's work in
fighting poverty from the 1700s to present day; Smith will analyze the
relationship between poverty and wealth in the United States; Miller
will discuss the ELCA's Ministry Among Persons in Poverty (MAPP);
Moller-Gunderson and Bullock will discuss wealth in the church and the
importance of calling attention to poverty and wealth among members of
the ELCA.
     "The series of presentations will lead up to a brainstorming
session, where participants will set direction for the ELCA's future
work on poverty and wealth," Horton said.
     Participants will also form a response to challenges brought forth
in a "Pastoral Letter on Wealth and Poverty" issued March 7, 2000, to
members of the church by the ELCA Conference of Bishops, an advisory
body composed of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and
secretary.  Challenges in the letter include expanding "ministries of
advocacy on behalf of the voiceless and vulnerable in society,"
affirming and supporting "Lutheran institutions, church-based community
organizations, and other faith-based efforts to stand with the hungry,
homeless, oppressed and imprisoned," and strengthening "efforts which
call forth the power of the working poor."
     A report based on the outcome of the forum will be shared with the
ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, Conference of Bishops and ELCA
Church Council -- the church's board of directors and legislative
authority between ELCA churchwide assemblies.
     Other recipients of the report include the ELCA Division for
Congregational Ministries, Division for Church in Society, Division for
Global Mission, Division for Outreach and Women of the ELCA -- the
women's organization of the church.  Members of MAPP, the ELCA staff
team for Women and Children Living in Poverty, ELCA World Hunger Appeal
and Program staff, Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA) staff
and state public policy officers will also receive the report.  LOGA is
the ELCA's federal public policy advocacy office in Washington, D.C.,
and a program of the Division for Church in Society.
     The forum is funded in part by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a
fraternal benefit organization based in Minneapolis.
-- -- --
     Information about the Forum on Poverty and Wealth is available at
http://www.elca.org/dcm/socialministry/ForumPoverty&Wealth.html on the
Internet.  The ELCA Conference of Bishops' Pastoral Letter on Wealth and
Poverty is at http://www.elca.org/ob/wealth.html on the Internet.

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