Title: ELCA Bishops Look to Millennium
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 31, 1997

ELCA BISHOPS LOOK TO MILLENNIUM
97-13-035-AH

     LOS ANGELES (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding
bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, suggested
that the bishops of the ELCA write a pastoral letter to
congregations on the relationship of the church and the
millennium.
     Anderson spoke to the Conference of Bishops meeting in Los
Angeles March 6-12.  He is thinking about "how the church relates
to an entirely new world" and he would like the bishops to
consider "the matter of the church in time" and how the church
will relate to the world and the society that is coming into
being, he said.
     The bishops voted "to prepare a pastoral letter(s) or
message (s) on the occasion of the millennium."  The Rev. Guy S.
Edmistron, Harrisburg, Pa., bishop of the Lower Susquehanna
Synod, commented that the Roman Catholic Church has a three-year
plan for observing the millennium and a Lutheran presence in the
ecumenical arena would be welcome.  The Rev. Howard E. Wennes,
Phoenix, bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod, called the millennium
"a teaching moment to name the issues for the future critical to
the life of the church."
     Anderson introduced the next draft of his "Initiatives."  He
said he hopes this spring's ELCA synod assemblies will discuss
them and view them as belonging to the whole church.  Anderson
said that while there are no bold new ventures here, these six
key initiatives are meant to call the ELCA to the basic,
essential tasks of the church: deepen our worship life, teach the
faith, strengthen one another for mission, help the children,
connect with youth and young adults and develop leaders for the
next century.
     Anderson asked the bishops to lead the discussion of these
initiatives in the synods, to encourage pastors and congregations
to dream about how they will live them out in mission and
ministry.  His goal is to have a series of  "we will" statements
under each of the initiatives when they are presented to the
churchwide assembly in August.
     Presidents of the ELCA's eight seminaries joined the bishops
for discussion of the future of theological education.  The Rev.
Richard N. Jessen, bishop of the Nebraska Synod, pointed to key
issues: recruitment, the relationship of seminaries and candidacy
committees, the first-call process, pastoral attention to those
not suited for the ministry, students' and seminaries' financial
challenges, and the church's ability to support eight seminaries.
     The Rev. Dennis A. Anderson, president of Trinity Lutheran
Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, said effective leadership is critical
for theological education, and seminaries, bishops, synods,
pastors, and laity should combine their efforts.
Anderson expressed appreciation for synodical support, but
suggested that it will become more difficult in the future to
pass on to seminary students the increased costs of seminary
education.
     The Rev. Phyllis B. Anderson, director for theological
education in the Division for Ministry, said the seminaries and
the church have a partnership, "sharing a sacred trust which
contributes so mightily to the mission of the church."  The
primary question, she said is how to make this partnership more
effective for the changing mission of the church in the 21st
century.
     Bishop Anderson noted the 150th anniversary of the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod during 1997 and asked whether he should
send official greetings to that church body upon this occasion.
The conference voted to authorize Anderson to extend anniversary
greetings to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on its behalf.

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