ELCA Department for Communication, News & Information
8765 West Higgins Rd, Chicago, IL  60631  800/638-3522 ext. 2963

HEADLINES FOR ELCA NEWS RELEASE ISSUE #23, October 26, 1995

-- BONNIE L. JENSEN WILL LEAD ELCA GLOBAL MISSION
-- ELCA TO REORGANIZE ECUMENICISM DEPARTMENT
-- ELCA SYNOD SEEKS "BOND OF FELLOWSHIP" WITH
   CONGREGATIONS TO BE EXPELLED
-- COMMISSION STUDYING HOW MEMBERS CHOSEN

October 26, 1995

BONNIE L. JENSEN WILL LEAD
ELCA GLOBAL MISSION
95-23-70-AH

        CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Bonnie L. Jensen, 57, was elected
executive director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
Division for Global Mission, at the division's board meeting here Oct.
20-22.   She succeeds the Rev. Mark W. Thomsen, who will retire Nov.
30 following 14 years leading the global mission staff of the ELCA and
the former American Lutheran Church.
        Jensen has served on the global mission staff since the ELCA
was formed in 1988, first as director for global education and,  most
recently, as director for planning and evaluation and program director for
Papua New Guinea and South Pacific.
        The board's election confirmed the recommendation of Jensen by
ELCA Bishop-elect H. George Anderson.  A screening committee has
been at work on the process for 10 months.
        Thomsen said, "Bonnie Jensen has a deep commitment to the
gospel and the ability to express that faith with both passion and clarity.
She also is an incredibly organized administrator who truly cares for
people."  He called her "gifted and experienced."
        Jensen is the former executive director of the American Lutheran
Church Women, a post she held for seven years.  She graduated magna
cum laude from Dana College, Blair, Neb., and earned a master of divinity
degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.  She grew
up in Royal, Iowa.
        Under Thomsen's leadership the division has consistently
"challenged ELCA members and congregations to take up Jesus' cross
and renew their commitment to proclaim Jesus Christ at home and
globally," Jensen said in an interview.
        Jensen reiterated the theme of challenge: "At this time of
transition we will renew the call to partnership in mission that is rooted in
sacrifice and prayer."  She challenged ELCA congregations "to pray at
each Sunday worship gathering at least one petition that is global in
scope."
        "In this weekly discipline," she said, "pray for ELCA missionaries
and our partner churches in more than 50 countries, and remember
people in all the corners of the world where the good news of God's
new life in Jesus Christ is desperately needed and longed for."
        Jensen hopes for "an anointing of the Holy Spirit that will energize
the ELCA and set us on fire for the mission of Christ.  I hope all our
members and congregations will increase their financial support for the
ministries we share at home and worldwide."
        The division's credibility is strong, Jensen said, citing "the strong
partnership with congregations, pastors and individuals who continually
raise the concern for mission beyond ourselves.   That is a crucial link in
the whole program that stretches from congregations here to Taiwan or
Liberia.
        "DGM will continue its commitment to linking ELCA congregations
and members much more directly to global churches and contexts and
the ministry being carried out in those places," Jensen said.
        The division administers a budget totaling $24 million.
        Bonnie and the Rev. Richard Jensen served as missionaries in
Ethiopia in 1961-65.   They are the parents of three adult children: Doron
Jensen, Dodelle Dhein and Derek Jensen.
        In another action the board voted to recommend that the ELCA
Department for Human Resources provide clarification of the ELCA
constitution for boards engaged in the election of an executive director.
The bylaw under question indicates that the election should occur "in
consultation with and with the approval of the bishop of this church."
The process and related action took place in executive session.

##########

October 26, 1995
ELCA TO REORGANIZE ECUMENICISM DEPARTMENT
95-23-071-AH

        CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. George Anderson, bishop-elect
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will reorganize the
church#s Department for Ecumenical Affairs beginning Oct. 31, when the
Rev. William G. Rusch concludes his second term as director.
        In an Oct. 24 memo to ELCA leaders Anderson reaffirmed the
ecumenical vision adopted by the Churchwide Assembly in 1991.  He
expressed "desire to maintain our ecumenical contacts" and stressed the
importance of "an open discussion of all ecumenical proposals coming
before the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly."
        Anderson said in an interview he plans "a stronger focus" on that
process, "involving more people."  He said, "I anticipate using synodical
ecumenical representatives, synod bishops and a wide variety of
qualified people."
        In 1997 the ELCA Churchwide Assembly will address proposals
for establishing full communion with the Episcopal Church and three
Reformed churches in the United States, and a proposal that the Roman
Catholic Church mutually declare the 16th-century condemnations on the
doctrine of justification to be no longer applicable.
        Rusch will continue to serve as an ecumenist from the ELCA on
the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and in
certain other cases.
        The Rev. Daniel F. Martensen will serve as acting director of the
department, according to the memo.  Martensen has served as associate
director.  A decision will be made on a new director at the April meeting
of the ELCA Church Council.
        Anderson praised Rusch as "an excellent representative of this
church to its ecumenical partners."  Rusch "deserves great credit for his
leadership during the first eight years of this church#s existence,"
Anderson said.
        Rusch commented, "I am pleased that in the early years of this
church it has been possible to develop an official statement on
ecumenism which I think will serve the church well into the future."
        "The ELCA now finds itself in a pivotal position to provide
leadership to the ecumenical movement," he said.
        "Historic ecumenical proposals face the ELCA," Rusch said.  "I
will observe with great interest and commitment as Bishop Anderson and
the church move toward these decisions."
        Martensen stressed that the ELCA will continue bilateral dialogues
with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Moravian Church, the
Orthodox churches and the Roman Catholic Church.  The ELCA carries
on inter-religious conversations with Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and
Native Americans, Martensen said.

##########

October 26, 1995
ELCA SYNOD SEEKS `BONDS OF FELLOWSHIP'
WITH CONGREGATIONS  TO BE EXPELLED
95-23-072-AH

        OAKLAND (ELCA) -- The synod council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America's Sierra Pacific Synod voted Sept. 16 for
seven ways to remain in fellowship with St. Francis and First United
Lutheran Churches of San Francisco.  The two congregations are under
suspension by the ELCA and scheduled to be expelled Dec. 31.
        Disciplinary action was taken in 1990 after the congregations
called three persons who were not approved for call and ordination by
the ELCA because they had not indicated compliance with ELCA
standards requiring homosexuals to remain abstinent.
        According to an Oct. 18 letter from the Rev. Robert W. Mattheis,
bishop of the synod, the council#s action reaffirms the synod's intent,
expressed in a synod assembly resolution, to #explore creative ways to
maintain a strong bond of fellowship# with these congregations.  The
ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August affirmed the synod#s original
action.
        Mattheis said some congregations in the synod "will grieve the
loss of these congregations," but "others hope that this will resolve what
has been a painful issue for the whole synod for more than five years."
        The seven points for the process are:
        #ask Bishop Robert Mattheis to write a prayer petition for
congregations of the synod for use Dec. 31, 1995;
        #urge the San Francisco Conference (of ELCA congregations) to
continue to include the congregations in conference activities as
possible;
        #direct the synod office and the ELCA to keep the congregations
on mailing lists;
        #express hope that the two congregations will be available as
resources for others in areas of ministry where they have expertise;
        #ask the bishop to invite clergy and members of the
congregations to attend the synod assembly as visitors and observers;
        #encourage members of the ELCA to make their concern for
these congregations concrete by worshiping with them; and
        #ask the bishop to continue offering  pastoral care to the clergy
and members of these congregations.
        In his letter to congregations, pastors and associates in ministry,
Mattheis wrote, "Many people feel deeply and strongly about what this
will mean for these congregations and for the ELCA.  Often these
feelings are in direct opposition to one another."
        Mattheis wrote, "It will be important that we pray much, listen
deeply, and speak in love as we seek to be faithful disciples of our Lord
Jesus Christ during this time.  I am confident that it will be so!"  He
included the requested prayer petition in his letter.  The council will
review the seven points and the "bonds of fellowship" in September
1996.

##########
October 26, 1995
COMMISSION STUDYING HOW MEMBERS CHOSEN
95-23-073-LC

        CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America's Commission for Multicultural Ministries is considering changing
the way its steering committee members are selected.  The steering
committee governs the commission.
        Currently, the steering committee members are nominated by
three sources: division boards, ethnic associations, and ELCA Church
Council.  Each ethnic community -- African American, Hispanic, Native
American and Asian -- is represented on the steering committee by four
members; two are nominated by the association and two are nominated
by ELCA division boards or Church Council.  Four white steering
committee members are nominated by the Church Council.  The council
elects all 20 members of the steering committee.
        The Rev. Frederick E.N. Rajan, CMM executive director, said the
commission is looking for the "best way to govern itself and also be very
authentic as representatives of the communities."  This possible change
reflects that the "commission must always listen to the communities -- not
only listen but verify and check what we are hearing is correct to the
broader community," said Rajan.   "Because this is something new, part
of the process is to get feedback before any change is made."
        The proposal is: the African American Lutheran Association, the
Association of Asians, the Association of Hispanic Ministries and the
Native American Association would each nominate four persons to
serve on the steering committee.  Of the four, two will be clergy and one
will be lay male and one lay female.  The white members would continue
to be elected by the Church Council.  To enlarge the pool of available
candidates current association membership would not be a prerequisite.
        On Oct. 13 a letter from the chair of the steering committee and
the four association presidents went to all ELCA African American,
Asian, Hispanic and Native American congregations and rostered
persons asking for input.  On Nov. 15 CMM will forward responses to the
associations asking each for its recommendation by Dec. 29.  The
steering committee will take action on the proposed change at its March
2-3, 1996 meeting.  If the commission approves the change, the
resolution would move to the ELCA Church Council for approval.
        In other business, the steering commitee encouraged
congregations to study and work against anti-immigrant sentiment.
Members of the ELCA "are called by God to love its neighbor, to uphold
justice and to show kindness to those in need," said the resolution.  "The
Lutheran church is an immigrant church," said Rajan and "we have a
history of  serving immigrant people."
        The resolution asks congregations to study resources from
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS).  CMM will work with
LIRS and the ELCA Division for Church and Society to encourage
"volunteer action as sponsors, mentors, advocates and friends on behalf
of uprooted people and to promote humane treatment and just laws on
their behalf."
        Rajan will communicate this concern to Bishop-elect H. George
Anderson, the ELCA Church Council and Conference of Bishops, and
encourage their leadership in support of this resolution.
        "This is one issue as a multicultural commission we should be
concerned about.  Part of our responsibility is to be a voice for those
who are oppressed -- those who are voiceless," said the Rev. Samuel
Hernandez, Iglesia Luterana Betel, Fresno, Calif.
        The steering committee, association presidents and CMM staff will
meet for a two-day retreat prior to the spring steering committee meeting
to develop a new vision and mission statement for the commission.
        The Rev. W. Arthur Lewis, director, Lutheran Council of
Tidewater, Norfolk, Va., was elected chair of the steering committee.
The Rev. Margrethe Kleiber, Tierrasanta Lutheran Church, San Diego,
Calif., is vice chair and the Rev. Duane L. Addison, Fridley, Minn., is
secretary.