ELCA NEWS SERVICE October 11, 2005 ELCA Bishops Hope for New Orleans Meeting; Executive Reappointed 05-192-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) agreed to hold its spring 2006 meeting possibly in the New Orleans area to emphasize the church's call to speak and work against poverty, hunger and racism. Scheduling a meeting in the New Orleans-Mississippi Gulf Coast area in March 2006 depends on availability of hotel space, much of which is now being used by evacuees and relief workers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the bishops were told. The spring 2006 Conference of Bishops meeting will replace a planned synodical/churchwide leaders gathering that would have included the Conference of Bishops in Lake Geneva, Wis., March 3- 5. The leaders' gathering may be moved to fall 2006. The conference agreed to the suggestion to consider meeting in the Gulf Coast region from its Synodical-Churchwide Relations Committee after several bishops questioned the need for a synodical/churchwide leaders gathering in March 2006. "This is an opportunity for us to connect in a 'kairotic' way with the situation in New Orleans," said the Rev. Ray Tiemann, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Texas Synod, Seguin, and committee chair. In addition to the conference's regular agenda, the bishops hope to talk with local residents and church leaders about living conditions in the New Orleans area and on the Mississippi Gulf Coast following this year's disaster. Some bishops expressed a desire to help residents rebuild while they are there. The committee also said it hoped that a similar theme, focusing on the church's response to poverty, racism and hunger, could be included in significant churchwide events leading up to a possible fall 2006 synodical/churchwide leadership gathering. The committee suggested planned meetings that could focus on the themes, including a gathering of chief executive officers of Lutheran institutions in Jacksonville, Fla., later this year; the Conference of Bishops' Academy in January 2006; first meetings of new churchwide program committees in February; the March meeting of the Conference of Bishops; the ELCA Church Council meeting in April; and synod assemblies next spring. The Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich Reappointed The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, announced he reappointed the Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich to a four-year term as executive for synodical relations. Hanson said he made the appointment in consultation with the Conference of Bishops executive committee. Schwich, 51, was director of the former ELCA Department for Synodical Relations, a position to which she was elected by the ELCA Church Council in July 2000. In the churchwide restructuring proposals approved at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the Office of the Presiding Bishop was given responsibility for synodical relations and the assembly action called for appointment of an executive for synodical relations. Schwich will continue her responsibilities provide staff support for the Conference of Bishops. She will relate to the Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries, plan for synodical- churchwide consultations and churchwide participation in synod assemblies, and provide for a variety of services to synods. Born in Saginaw, Mich., Schwich is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Mich.; and Luther-Northwestern (now Luther) Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. Following ordination in 1986, Schwich served as pastor of congregations in Traverse City, Mich., and Park Ridge, Ill. She was director of church relations for Stephen Ministries, St. Louis, and bishop's associate for developing a healthy ministerium, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod. Schwich and her husband, the Rev. Daniel J. Schwick, also an ELCA pastor, are parents of three sons. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news