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Title: ELCA Hosts "Faith and Action" Conference ELCA NEWS SERVICE NEWSBRIEF September 13, 1996 "PROVOKING TO FAITH AND ACTION!" Christians are involved in American society because "it's what we're called to do," Christine Grumm, executive director of The Chicago Foundation for Women, told about 120 Lutherans who came to Chicago Sept. 6-8 from 32 states. They represented 59 of 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America during a conference, "Provoking to Faith and Action!" hosted by the ELCA Division for Church in Society. "Advocacy means being a servant in a community," said Grumm. "Because we see the brokenness of the community, as the family of God, we are called to act." Grumm is a former vice president of the ELCA and former deputy secretary of the Lutheran World Federation. Small groups discussed the "church in society" issues confronted in ELCA synods, such as gambling, racial tensions and gay-lesbian issues. They explored ways to act in partnership with other synods and the churchwide organization to address those issues. Participants heard descriptions of the work done by the various departments of the Division for Church in Society, including the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs in Washington, D.C. They also took part in skill and topical workshops. Skill workshops dealt with advocacy, resources, organizing, setting priorities and communicating. Thirteen topical workshops addressed such issues as Lutherans with disabilities, the ELCA World Hunger Program and earthkeeping ministries. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service, (312) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (312) 380-2955 or [log in to unmask]