Title: ELCA Council Celebrates the Ordination of Women
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 16, 1999

ELCA COUNCIL CELEBRATES THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN
99-285-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) approved a resolution encouraging celebrations
in various settings during 2000 to honor the 30th anniversary of the
ordination of Lutheran women in North America.
     The council met here Nov. 12-14.  It functions as the ELCA's board
of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church
between churchwide assemblies.  Assemblies are held every other year;
the next is Aug. 8-14, 2001, in Indianapolis.
     The council will also honor the 80th anniversary of the first
decision of a Lutheran church (Evangelical Lutheran Church in the
Kingdom of the Netherlands) to ordain women.
     The resolution was developed by the steering committee of the ELCA
Commission for Women.  Along with the council, several churchwide
boards, steering committees and other expressions of the church will
honor the anniversary of the ordination of women.
     Congregations and seminaries of the ELCA will plan activities and
special worship services to mark the anniversary.
     Women represent more than 12 percent (2,191) of the ordained
ministers of the ELCA, as of September 1998.  Some clergy asked that the
30th anniversary be observed to mark the beginning of a new millennium.


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