ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 20, 2003 Women of the ELCA Hosts New Web Magazine for Young Women 03-161-MR/JAC* CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Cafe: Stirring the Spirit Within" -- a new online magazine (or e-zine) intended for women ages 20-35 -- was launched Aug. 18 by Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the women's organization of the church. The faith-based e-zine will be issued five times a year, according to Nancy J. Goldberger, editor, Lutheran Women Today, the magazine of Women of the ELCA. Cafe, an acronym for "community, advocacy, faith and enlightenment," will be delivered electronically to subscribers via e-mail and will be posted on the Web. Golberger said each issue is centered on a specific topic with information housed in four main sections: Hot Topic, Coffee Talk, Tip Jar and Internet Cafe. Hot Topic contains the main article complimented by sidebars of relevant information, Goldberger said. Coffee Talk includes questions for discussion on the main topic; Tip Jar offers subscribers a chance to share their thoughts and read what others have to say about the topic; and Internet Cafe offers related Web links, articles, books, movies and more, she said. The first issue focuses on fair-trade chocolate, Goldberger said. Subscribers will learn how thousands of cocoa farmers around the world are "unable to earn a sustainable wage and how our actions or lack thereof fuel this oppression," she said. The issue highlights the Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Chocolate Project and other fair-trade activism and projects, such as "Do Justice: The Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project. LWR is the overseas relief and development ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Future topics for the e-zine include the environment, finances and sexuality, said Goldberger. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided a grant to fund Cafe for two years, Goldberger said. Thrivent is a fraternal benefit organization based in Minneapolis. Cafe can be accessed online at http://www.elca.org/wo/cafe/ on the ELCA's Web site. *Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media Production. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news