Title: ELCA Studying Economic Issues
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 29, 1997

ELCA STUDYING ECONOMIC ISSUES
97-28-080-AH

        CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Ongoing study of economic justice in the =
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will get a boost from a satellite =
town hall meeting Oct. 4, =22Christ Alive in Us=21 Pursuing Justice in =
Economic Life.=22  The Board of the ELCA=27s Division for Church in =
Society, meeting here Sept. 18-20, heard details of a convocation =
involving participants at eight locations.
        Study of economic life is under way in ELCA congregations as the =
church prepares to develop a social statement.  The Rev. H. George =
Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, will take part in the teleconferenc=
e. =20
        The telecast will =22explore the dynamics of the current economic =
situation, what the Christian faith calls the church to do, what the =
church is doing and strategies for the future,=22 according to the Rev. =
Leslie Weber, associate executive director of the Division for Church in =
Society.=20
        In the United States, almost 40 million people, including 16 =
million children, live below or close to the poverty line, the board was =
told.  The regional convocations will be at Spokane, Wash.; Minneapolis; =
Austin, Texas; Atchison, Kan.; Huron, Ohio; Litchfield, Conn.; Harrisburg, =
Pa.; and Columbia, S.C.  They will address welfare reform, downsizing, =
rural problems, tax abatements and the many economic changes confronting =
society.=20
        The board authorized work on a new study of health care issues.  =
=22Ethical Challenges of Health Care Today: Systemic and Clinical =
Issues=22 is the first step toward a proposal for a social statement to be =
brought to the 1999 churchwide assembly.  =20
        The Rev. Karen Bloomquist, director for Studies, told the board =
*the ELCA has significant investment in and expertise regarding health =
care concerns.*  She said, *Developments in society point to the urgency =
and importance of addressing this arena.*
        A volume of essays to be titled =22The Promise of Lutheran =
Ethics=22 will be published before the end of 1997, Bloomquist told the =
board.  A congregational study on gambling is being drafted.  Another =
series of essays is being written on questions arising from genetic =
screening and testing.
        Bloomquist said a new project in 1998 will be the development of a =
message on immigration to be brought to the ELCA Church Council for =
adoption.
        Joanne Negstad, St. Paul, Minn., president of Lutheran Services in =
America, brought to the board the first report of the new organization, =
formed in April.   LSA is =22an alliance of the ELCA, the Lutheran =
Church-Missouri Synod and their 280 social ministry organizations,=22 =
Negstad said.
        The board engaged in developing the division*s strategic plan for =
the next three years that includes a theological framework, the ELCA=27s =
Initiatives for a New Century and the scope of work in progress.  Ingrid =
Christiansen, Chicago, board chairperson, stressed the Bible study and =
prayer that undergird the strategy: *Our work is in response to God=27s =
desire.  We are the body of God=27s work in the world.  God wishes for us =
to attend to the needs of God=27s people.*
        The Rev. Gladys G. Moore, board member from Jersey City, N.J., =
said, =22We have an understanding of our mission, of God=27s mission, that =
is to heal, serve and provide justice for people who are marginalized.=22=
=20
        Christiansen was re-elected for a fourth two-year term as board =
chairperson.

The ELCA town hall meeting on economic life via satellite teleconference:

Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997
     9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Pacific
     10:00 a.m. -  2:00 p.m. Mountain
     11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Central
     12 noon - 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Frequencies: C Band, Galaxy 3, Transponder 11

For information contact:=20
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS=40ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html