ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 28, 2006

Presiding Bishops Hanson, Griswold Address ELCA Global Mission Event
06-112-KH*

     AMHERST, Mass. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding
bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA),
Chicago, invited participants at the opening celebration of the
ELCA Global Mission Event (GME) here July 27 to "join in the
struggle to accompany one another as we walk in the light of
Christ, seeing each other in the image of God."
     Co-sponsored by The Episcopal Church and endorsed by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, some 1,300 participants of
all ages from the United States and around the world are meeting
here July 27-30. The event features plenary sessions, a "Global
Fest" with food and music from cultures around the world, keynote
presenters, Global University workshop sessions, global music and
worship. The theme for this year's event is "Sent! by God's
grace for the sake of the world."
     Hanson encouraged participants to ask themselves "what it
means to be sent, to participate in God's mission for the sake of
the world," he said. "What if from the moment of our first
breath until our last dying gasp, our self-understanding was that
we bear the image of God to live in community as God's guests,
stewards of the mysteries of God's grace?"
     Hanson addressed the global perceptions of North Americans.
"Most Americans want to be seen as a generous and freedom loving
people, but that's not how we are seen so often today," he said.
     Rather than being seen as stewards of God's creation, "we
are seen increasingly as a people preoccupied with our economic
power and mesmerized by our military might," he said. "We see
creation, not as God's gracious place of hospitality to us, God's
gracious guests, but as the object of our consumption to satisfy
our endless needs."
     Hanson urged participants to "to be engaged in God's mission
of reconciliation together as fellow guests, walking in the light
of Christ, walking in the way of Christ," he said. "In the
promise of the gospel, you and I are welcomed and sent as God's
guests. What a holy calling it is that we share."
     The Most Rev. Frank Griswold, presiding bishop of The
Episcopal Church, New York, also spoke during the opening
session, reiterating a message of reconciliation to GME
participants. "The mission we share is for the sake of the
world," he said. "It is important that we always remember that."
     Drawing from the Gospel of John, Griswold said, "The whole
of Christ's life is working the work of the Father," and that
work is a "massive, undeniable act of reconciliation."
     Griswold urged participants to "approach everyone as
potentially revelatory of Christ," because Christ is present
everywhere, adding that Christ's power is made perfect in
weakness.
     "At this Global Mission Event our Episcopal brothers and
sisters join us" as well as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Canada, said the Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, executive director,
ELCA Global Mission, Chicago. The ELCA and The Episcopal Church
entered into a full communion relationship in 1999. "We
acknowledge the gift of unity given to us by Jesus Christ," he
said.
     The opening celebration featured dance, music and languages
from around the world.
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     Information about the ELCA Global Mission Event is at
http://www.ELCA.org/gme on the ELCA Web site.

*Katherine R. Hinck is a senior journalism and religion major at
Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer she is an
intern with the ELCA News Service.

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