Title: Lutheran Men Build Legacy of Faith
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 2, 1999

LUTHERAN MEN BUILD LEGACY OF FAITH
99-148-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 1999 Lutheran Men's Gathering will bring
together grandfathers, fathers, sons and friends to explore what it
means to "build a legacy of faith and life" that will make a difference
in families today and for generations to come.  The gathering will take
place Aug. 13-15 at the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, Colo.
     Under the theme "Building Legacy," about 1,000 men will worship,
participate in workshops and hear keynote presentations.  Music will be
provided by musician and songwriter Paul Todd, the music group Dakota
Road and guitarist Tony Melendez.  Born without arms and hands, Melendez
plays the guitar with his feet.
     The goals of the gathering are three-fold, said Douglas Haugen,
director for Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA).  "The event will serve to connect men from all
generations in America today, spark new men's ministries in ELCA
congregations, and uplift and support the Lutheran Men in Mission
organization," he said.  LMM is organized in 42 of the ELCA's 65 synods.
     Keynote presenters will include the Rev. Walt Wangerin, host of
"Lutheran Vespers," the radio ministry of the ELCA; the Rev. Roland D.
Martinson, a professor of pastoral care at Luther Seminary, St. Paul,
Minn., a seminary of the ELCA; and Ken Canfield, president of the
National Center for Fathering, a nonprofit education and research center
dedicated to "inspiring and equipping" men to be responsible fathers.
     The Rev. Albert Starr Jr., pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church,
Los Angeles; the Rev. Richard Hardel, executive director for the Youth
and Family Institute of Augsburg College, Minneapolis, a college of the
ELCA; the Rev. Richard Jensen, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago;
Bart Campolo, vice president of Kingdomworks, an urban youth ministry,
Philadelphia; and Lyman Coleman, president of Serendipity, Littleton,
Colo., will also present.
     At the gathering men from "the plains, hills, seashores and
mountains will discover a fresh relationship with God and with other men
on the same faith journey," Haugen said.
     The gathering will precede the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in
Denver, Aug. 16-22.
     The goal of LMM is to build men's faith, relationships and
ministry through men's gatherings, resources produced by the
organization and leadership development.  LMM works to achieve its goal
by working with men in congregations and synods of the ELCA through
gatherings, Bible studies, men's ministry guidebooks and resources, and
"coast-to-coast" leadership training, Haugen said.
     "Our commitment is to assist every congregation in establishing an
effective, life-changing men's ministry so that every man would become
a stronger churchman and a stronger family man," he said.

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