ELCA Department for Communication, News & Information
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HEADLINES FOR ELCA NEWS RELEASE ISSUE #17, July 14, 1995

-- JUBILEE `95: TEACH TO REACH
-- LUTHERANS MEET IN SYNOD ASSEMBLIES
-- RECAP OF SPRING 1995 ELECTIONS


July 14, 1995

JUBILEE '95: TEACH TO REACH
95-17-052-LC

        KENOSHA, WIS. (ELCA) -- "Who will believe in Christ because of
your words and invitation?" the Rev. Marta Poling-Goldenne asked more
than 200 people gathered here for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America's first national leadership conference on education and
evangelism.  "Research shows that the unchurched would go to church
if only invited by a friend," she added.  More than 1,300 people from
across the ELCA gathered at five sites for the conference.
        "Jubilee `95: Teach to Reach," was held July 6-9 at Adrian
College, Adrian, Mich.; Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa.; Carthage
College, Kenosha, Wis.; Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.; and  Lenoir
Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C.
        Goals included equipping congregational leaders in Christian
education and evangelism:
        *       to empower others in reaching out to the unchurched and
to the          community;
        *       to grow in faith and help others strengthen faith
commitments;
        *       to live out their baptismal covenant in families and
vocations               and
        *       to discover new ways to connect education and
evangelism programs in congregations.
        Each site offered its own worship, workshops, small-group
conversations and Bible study.  Workshop topics included multicultural
evangelism, alternative worship, ministry with the Latino community,
communicating with youth, boomers and busters, prison ministry,
creative teaching, and how to market your ministries.
        In a workshop on how to reach younger generations,
Poling-Goldenne, ELCA associate director for education and evangelism,
laid out the different characteristics of "baby boomers" and "busters."
She encouraged people to present the gospel "in a way that is familiar to
people.  In a way they can hear it."
        To minister to members of "Generation X" -- those born between
1961 and 1981 -- focus on relationship and communication concerns,
said Poling-Goldenne.  This generation, also known as busters, are
"action-orientated and high tech."  Plan well-orchestrated and lively
worship; use variety, she added.
        In a series of Bible studies the Rev. James A. Nestingen,
professor of church history, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., talked
about how television has become an interloper in people's lives.
        Three stories come together in a life of faith, said Nestingen --
Scripture, the stories of our ancestors and their immigration, and our
own personal story.  "Television has interfered with these three stories.
The stories told there are very different from the biblical stories," said
Nestingen.
        The Bible is about faith and hope and television is about
exploitation, he said.  "TV has gained incredible power, and the other
three stories are not being told.  We are in deep trouble.  A couple of
generations are missing their three stories -- they only know the fourth.
If you talk about evangelism and mission, you need to go back to those
three stories."
        "The highlight of the event for me was the chance to network
with other people involved in Christian education," said Diane Christnagle,
director for education ministries, Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Hastings,
Minn.  "It was nice to connect with people outside the synod and share
ideas and resources."  Christnagle attended and helped plan the
Concordia event.
        "I hope people who work in Christian education took home some
inspiration," said Dr. Mary Ingram, ELCA associate director for children
and family ministries.  "I hope through Jubilee they were able to make the
natural connections between education and evangelism when it comes
to bringing people into the faith."
        The Rev. Martin E. Marty, professor of church history, University
of Chicago; M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director of the ELCA's Division
for Congregational Ministries; Dr. Maria Harris, professor of religious
education at Auburn Theological Seminary, New York; and Dr. Roberta
Hestenes, president, Eastern College, St. David's, Pa., offered taped
presentations at all five sites.
        The conference was planned by the ELCA's education and
evangelism team of the Division for Congregational Ministries.

##########
July 14, 1995

LUTHERANS MEET IN SYNOD ASSEMBLIES
95-17-053-FI

        CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America held assemblies from one to three days in length
between April 20 and June 25.  Eleven new bishops were elected and
26 were re-elected.  Scores of resolutions addressed dozens of topics.
        The ELCA's Nebraska Synod held a festival gathering at the
University of Nebraska in Kearney.  All other synods approved budgets,
passed resolutions or adopted memorials (resolutions referred to the
ELCA Churchwide Assembly for action Aug. 16-22 in Minneapolis).  All
assemblies engaged in worship and fellowship.
        Resolution topics included AIDS, campus ministry, capital
punishment, disasters, ecumenical matters, environment, finances,
gambling, gender issues, global mission, guns, Habitat for Humanity, hate
and racism, health care and benefits, human sexuality, hunger, Lutheran
World Relief, peace, public schools, rural and urban issues, social
statements, social ministry organizations, theological education, violence,
welfare reform and worship.
        With all synod assemblies following the April 19 bombing of the
federal office building in Oklahoma City, most offered prayers for
survivors and contributions to the ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
Fund.  The Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod held its assembly April 20-22 in
Chickasha, Okla., and conducted an impromptu blood drive with the help
of the American Red Cross.
        Many of the synods had praise and funding options for Lutheran
social ministry organizations.  Several commended Lutheran Social
Services of Kansas/Oklahoma and its response to the Oklahoma City
bombing.  Others took the agencies off the synod budget and approved
their going directly to congregations for funding.
        Most assemblies gave special recognition to their women clergy
in celebrating 1995 as the 25th anniversary of the ordination of women in
North American Lutheranism.  The South Dakota Synod elected the Rev.
Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl to become its bishop -- the second woman
elected a bishop.  The Minneapolis Area Synod called for additional
women to serve as advisory members of the ELCA Conference of
Bishops until seven bishops are women.
        Many synods devoted part of their assembly agendas to
recognizing the 50th anniversary of Lutheran World Relief.  Three
assemblies passed resolutions asking congregations to celebrate Nov.
19 as LWR Sunday.
        The most resolutions on a single topic were devoted to interim
ministry -- the service a pastor provides a congregation during the time
that congregation is between full-time pastors.  At least 22 assemblies
dealt with similar resolutions asking the ELCA to work with the National
Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors (NALIP) in developing standards
for interim ministry.
        Five synods expressed their opposition to "restoration of the
death penalty in Wisconsin" or "the renewed application of the death
penalty in Pennsylvania."  The resolutions cited the ELCA's 1991 social
statement opposing capital punishment.
        Resolutions on human sexuality took several directions.  Six
assemblies asked for actions ranging from stopping to supporting the
ELCA's current process toward a proposed social statement on human
sexuality.  Ten assemblies passed resolutions to welcome or advocate
for gay and lesbian Lutherans.
        The Grand Canyon Synod asked congregations to participate
actively in the ELCA's process of developing drafts of statements on
"issues that impact daily living."  The Minneapolis Area Synod called on
the ELCA to suspend developing new social statements "because they
are likely to divide rather than unite the church."
        ELCA members are studying the first draft of a possible statement
on sacramental practices, and that spawned a variety of synod
resolutions dealing with worship.  The New England Synod wants the
ELCA to celebrate the start of the third millennium of Christianity.
        Peace issues centered around a proposed social statement the
ELCA Chuchwide Assembly is considering, "Peace: God's Gift, Our
Calling."  Some synods will ask members of Congress to close the U.S.
Army School of the Americas, Fort Benning, Ga.  Other synods
designated Aug. 6 as a Day of Prayer for Peace, marking the 50th
anniversary of the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
        International matters and global mission interests were addressed
in a variety of resolutions.  The Northeastern Iowa Synod recognized the
concerns of the Tai Dam people of northwest Vietnam, one-third of
whom may be left homeless by a proposed dam.  Several other synods
established "companion synod" relationships with other Lutheran
dioceses around the world.
        Violence was a topic for many resolutions.  The Sierra Pacific
Synod will promote the YWCA's "Week Without Violence" Oct. 15-21.
The New Jersey Synod opposed legislation making handguns more
readily available.  The Northwest Washington Synod committed itself and
its congregations to be "safe places" for domestic abuse victims.
        Four synods adopted resolutions to show greater concern for the
environment.  The Southeastern Minnesota Synod urged all parishes to
emphasize soil stewardship in worship and adult Bible studies.  Others
recommended legislation and practices to prevent pollution and
encourage recycling.
        Several synods in Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and South Dakota passed resolutions taking various
stances on gambling.  Some opposed legalized gambling in their states.
The Southeastern Minnesota Synod discouraged the use of any form of
gambling to raise funds for its congregations.
        Synod assemblies asked for materials on prayer in public
schools, opposed a voucher system of funding public schools, and
supported a church/family night in Iowa's public schools.
        Three synods expressed concerns with the current
congressional debate over reforming the welfare system.  They used the
ELCA's support of women and children living in poverty and its working
principles on welfare reform to fashion their resolutions.
        Many synods supported a decision by the ELCA Board of
Pensions to provide medical coverage for abortions only to save the life
of the mother, in cases of rape or incest, or for fetal abnormalities that
would result in early death.  Others called on the board to cover mental
illness as it would any other biological illness.
        Rural concerns were expressed through continued membership
in the Great Plains Coalition for Rural Ministry and support for family
farmers.  Several other synods asked the church to commit itself and its
resources "to life-giving ministry in the city."
        Six synods dealt with ecumenical matters ranging from joining
interfaith councils to entering into covenants with their local Roman
Catholic dioceses.  The Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod voted to
acknowledge and reject "Martin Luther's violent invectives against the
Anabaptists" made in 16th-century Europe.
        The Western North Dakota Synod's assembly June 9-11 in
Bismarck was interwoven with similar assemblies of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ and United Methodist Church.
Roman Catholic Bishop John F. Kinney was the keynote speaker for joint
sessions.
        Many ELCA synods addressed a spectrum of financial matters,
from creating endowments to establishing grants for seminarians.  The
Central-Southern Illinois and South Dakota Synods asked their
congregations to set aside 15 percent of their budgets for synod and
churchwide ministries.
        Several resolutions supported various aspects of theological
education, especially for clergy.  The Central States and Northeastern
Ohio Synods asked for a churchwide study of "how Scriptures serve as
authority in this church."
        The Montana and Northwestern Pennsylvania Synods denounced
the misuse of Scriptures for racist purposes by extremist groups.
        Seven synods passed resolutions or memorials calling on the
ELCA to show strong leadership in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
        The North/West Lower Michigan and Rocky Mountain Synods
entered into covenants with Habitat for Humanity International.
        Six synods passed resolutions supporting programs to feed
hungry people, especially through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
        Several Minnesota synods decided to establish a
Congregation-Campus Ministry NetWork Program.
##########


RECAP OF SPRING 1995 ELECTIONS

The names of new bishops are followed by the dates they take office.

Synod   Elected Bishop

Alaska  Donald D. Parsons
Central States  Charles H. Maahs
Delaware-Maryland       George P. Mocko
Eastern Idaho-Washington        Robert M. Keller
Florida-Bahamas William B. Trexler      Aug. 1
Grand Canyon    Howard E. Wennes
Indiana-Kentucky        Ralph A. Kempski
Lower Susquehanna       Guy S. Edmiston Jr.
Metropolitan Chicago    Kenneth R. Olsen        Aug. 1
Metropolitan Washington, D.C.   Theodore F. Schneider   Aug. 1
Minneapolis Area        David W. Olson
Montana Mark R. Ramseth
New Jersey      E. LeRoy Riley
North Carolina  Mark W. Menees
North/West Lower Michigan       Gary L. Hansen  Sept. 1
Northeastern Ohio       Marcus J. Miller        Sept. 1
Northern Great Lakes    Dale R. Skogman
Northern Illinois       Ronald K. Hasley
Northwest Synod of Wisconsin    Robert D. Berg  Aug. 1
Northwest Washington    Donald H. Maier         Aug. 1
Northwestern Minnesota  Arlen D. Hermodson      Sept. 1
Northwestern Ohio       James A. Rave
Northwestern Pennsylvania       Paull E. Spring
Oregon  Paul R. Swanson
Pacifica        Robert L. Miller
Saint Paul Area Mark S. Hanson  Sept. 1
South Dakota    Andrea F. DeGroot-Nesdahl       Sept. 1
South-Central Synod of Wisconsin        Jon S. Enslin
Southeast Michigan      J. Philip Wahl
Southeastern    Ronald B. Warren        Sept. 1
Southwestern Pennsylvania       Donald J. McCoid
Southwestern Washington David C. Wold
Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast      Paul J. Blom
Upper Susquehanna       A. Donald Main
Virginia        Richard F. Bansemer
West Virginia-Western Maryland  L. Alexander Black
Western Iowa    Curtis H. Miller

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