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Title: Risch Takes Lutheran Office on Public Policy Post ELCA NEWS SERVICE March 11, 1996 RISCH TAKES MARYLAND POST The Rev. Elizabeth Senft Risch began Feb. 19 as executive director of the Lutheran Office on Public Policy in Maryland. She initiates and coordinates advocacy in the state on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Delaware-Maryland Synod and Metropolitan Washington D.C.Synod. Besides advocating directly with the state legislature, Risch will assist more than 105,000 Lutherans in 213 congregations around the state in making their voices heard on such critical issues as health care reform and housing. In addition, she will work together with counterparts from other denominations to plan for effective advocacy in Maryland. Although she began work partway through the 1996 legislative session in Annapolis, Risch anticipates having an opportunity to learn from and work with constituents to influence the legislative process. The Columbia, Md., resident holds degrees from the State University of New York at Stony Brook; the University of Maryland, College Park; and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa. For the past six years, she worked for the Howard County Library, most recently as Health Services Librarian. She also has served as pastor of New Hope Lutheran Church, Columbia. Risch's office is located at Christ Lutheran Church, Baltimore. She succeeds the Rev. Edward H. Heim who left the position in November 1995. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2058; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955; Lia Christiansen, Asst. Dir., (312) 380-2956