Title: ELCA Will Model 'Safe Haven for Children' at its 1999 Assembly
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 7, 1999

ELCA WILL MODEL 'SAFE HAVEN FOR CHILDREN' AT ITS 1999 ASSEMBLY
99-13-077-BM**

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's
(ELCA) leadership team for a "Help the Children" initiative will model a
"safe haven" for children at the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Denver
Aug. 16-22.
     Safe-haven child-care rooms will be set up for the children of
voting members, staff, visitors and volunteers. The rooms will be
primarily staffed by trained volunteers who serve in the Foster Share
program of Lutheran Family Services of Colorado.
     In addition to the child-care rooms, a "Children's Corner" will be
available where children can create world hunger bowls and participate
in music, arts and crafts, and where ELCA bishops, ELCA Church Council
members and other volunteers will read to the children.
     Activities in the Children's Corner will take place throughout the
assembly as examples of what congregations might do to become safe
havens for children, said Terry L. Bowes, Longmont, Colo. Bowes chairs
the "Help the Children" leadership team.
     Resources for congregations that want to become safe havens for
children will be available at the Children's Corner.
     The "Help the Children" leadership team also plans to share
stories during the assembly of safe-haven projects throughout the ELCA's
11,000 congregations, 65 synods and hundreds of agencies and
institutions of the church.
     The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, held every other year, is the chief
legislative authority of the church.
     In 1997 the ELCA Churchwide Assembly approved seven initiatives as
significant areas of ministry for the 21st century. Since then the ELCA
has begun planning for new ways to deepen worship life, teach the faith,
witness to God's action in the world through moral deliberation and
community renewal, strengthen one another in mission, provide a safe
place for children, connect with youth and young adults, and provide
leadership development.
     Leadership teams were formed early last year to provide overall
guidance for the work of congregations, synods and churchwide
organizations. Team leaders help provide a picture of how the church
may be different as a result of the initiatives.

     [*Barbara A. Myers is director of communication for the ELCA's
Lower Susquehanna Synod.]

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html