Title: ELCA Council Hears Archives Move Expected Before June
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 11, 1999

ELCA COUNCIL HEARS ARCHIVES MOVE EXPECTED BEFORE JUNE
99-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) --The archives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) is expected to move in May to a new facility in Elk
Grove Village, a suburb of Chicago, said the Rev. Lowell Almen, ELCA
secretary, in a report to the ELCA Church Council during its meeting
here April 9-12.
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as
the legislative authority of the church between its meetings of the
Churchwide Assembly. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is
August 16-22 in Denver.
     Purchase of the new facility, about 1,000 sq. ft. larger than the
present facility in Rosemont, Ill., was completed Feb. 26, Almen said. 
The move is needed because the Village of Rosemont sought the present
facility for development and purchased the building last fall.  Most of
the extra space in the new building is needed because of the archives'
growth, he said.
     "The new facility will ensure adequate care of our resources,"
Almen said.  The ELCA is a steward of some "very valuable materials of
our predecessor church bodies," he said, adding his office has sought to
"very carefully" manage the historical materials.
     The materials include a variety of documents on "cooperative
Lutheranism," Almen said.  Some materials are to be placed on microfilm
soon to ensure their preservation, he said.
     Elisabeth Wittman, chief archivist for the ELCA, is overseeing the
planning for the new facility, Almen added.

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