Title: Lutheran Asian Association Plans for the Future
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 10, 1997

LUTHERAN ASIAN ASSOCIATION PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
97-23-068-GG**

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "You are the sign of hope, the future of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," the Rev. H. George Anderson,
presiding bishop of the ELCA, told members of the Association of Asians -
ELCA.  Under the theme "Rejoice in Hope: Prayer and Spirituality in
Everyday Life," 95 Asian Lutherans from across the United States met June
26-28 in Los Angeles for the association's Fifth Biennial General Assembly.
The Association of Asians is a "visible Asian and Pacific Islander
community" of the ELCA.
     "Those within society who have clear goals will become the seeds ...
from which a new society is born," Anderson said in his keynote
presentation.
     "There are close to 23,000 Asians in the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America," said the Rev. Pongsak Limthongviratn, ELCA director for Asian
ministries.  Limthongviratn hopes to increase that number to 30,000 by the
year 2007.  He also hopes to expand the number of Asian congregations in
the ELCA from 49 to 90 and increase the number of Asian pastors from 40 to
80.
     To meet these goals the association will work closely with the ELCA's
Commission for Multicultural Ministries to establish Asian ministry "teams"
in places where there are no Asian congregations or ministries, said
Limthongviratn.  These teams, consisting of Asian pastors and lay leaders,
will minister to people of their own ethnic groups.  The ethnic groups
targeted for new ministries between 1997 and 2007 are the Chinese, Hmong,
Laotian, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, South Asian, Samoan, Japanese, Korean
and second generation Asian American.
     Three ways to expand our ministries, said Limthongviratn, are to
develop ministries that will later become organized congregations, to form
Asian ministries within English-speaking congregations and to start Asian
worship communities within English-speaking congregations.  Limthongviratn
believes that these ministries can be successful with good Asian
leadership, culturally-sensitive and ethnic-specific worship and
information materials, and funding for various projects and activities.
      "We, as a community of communities, can identify with the biblical
people of God in their sense of loss of home and tribe, sense of wandering
in an inhospitable desert, and great sense of dependence on God's grace and
guidance.  Yes, we have a lot to contribute to the development of Christian
faith in this church," said the Rev. Frederick E.N. Rajan, executive
director for the ELCA's Commission for Multicultural Ministries.
     Rajan urged participants to speak up and be heard and pointed out
that because of the diversity of ethnicity and cultures among Asians, there
is room for a diversity of theologies.  He strongly encouraged the
development of Asian theologies and Christian discipleship resources based
on the Bible.  He also called for a dialogue among ethnic communities to
help build a community where people of all races can be together to share
the Word, the meal and their unique gifts with each other.
     Polai'a Mereane R. Tausili, Seattle, the only Samoan participant at
the assembly, proposed to change the name of the association to include
Pacific Islanders.  By unanimous vote, the association's name was changed
to the Association of Asians/Pacific Islanders -- ELCA.  Tausili, a
seminarian who recently translated Luther's catechism into the Samoan
language, asked that this change be reflected in ELCA official documents.
The association's executive council will take the necessary steps to bring
this proposal to the ELCA's Church Council.
     "The new and most important activity the association will undertake
will be to encourage the formation of local chapters within the
association," reported the Rev. Margarethe S.C. Kleiber, associate pastor
for Tierrasanta Lutheran Church, San Diego.  Kleiber was elected president
of the association.
     "Local chapters will be able to provide direct support for pastors
and ministries affiliated with them.  The local chapters will also be
places where mission and outreach for particular areas can be developed,"
said Kleiber.  The association will also continue to support congregations
planning youth ministry events.
     The association will have two categories of membership available to
those who "subscribe to the goals and purposes" of the association.
Membership is available to all members of the ELCA and to individuals
involved in Asian/Pacific Islander ministries whether or not they are
members of the ELCA.
     Members voted to amend the bylaws on the term of office for the
executive council members "to ensure continuity and efficiency in running
the association." The term of office for the secretary, treasurer and
members-at-large were extended from two-year terms to four-year terms.  The
vice president will serve two years in office and, at the end of two years,
will assume the office of the president.  The term of office for the
president will be two years.  The vice president will be elected at each
assembly.  The association meets biennially.
     Officers for 1997-1999 are the Rev. Margarethe Kleiber, president;
the Rev. David Chen, San Diego, vice president; Andrew Yee, Chicago,
secretary; Samuel Chih, Hacienda Heights, Calif., treasurer, and the Rev.
Cherian Puthiyottil, St. Paul, Minn. council member-at-large.

[**Gigie Sijera-Grant, Baltimore, participated in the ELCA's Multicultural
Writers' Workshop.  Grant is a member of St. Michael Lutheran Church,
Baltimore.]

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html