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Title: ELCA Affirms Lutheran Campus Ministries ELCA NEWS SERVICE October 6, 1997 LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRY AFFIRMED The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America convened a "think tank" Sept. 19-20 on what it means to be a Lutheran campus ministry at state and private colleges. "Campus Ministry exists to assist students in academic settings to discover and fulfill their vocation in Jesus Christ," said the Rev. James Carr of the ELCA's Division for Higher Education and Schools. Participating campus pastors, university professionals, bishops and students recommended that "the function of campus ministry remain located within the division." The group said, "Campus ministry needs to show in a measurable way that it is being accountable for ministry." Another recommendation was for a communication plan to articulate the purpose and needs of campus ministry. At its Sept. 26-28 meeting, the division's board reviewed the think tank's report, voted to "strongly affirm" it and transmit it to the ELCA's Church Council for consideration at its meeting Nov. 14-16. The think tank was called for by the council at its April meeting. It was asked to look at the "purpose, structure and churchwide location of campus ministry" based on concerns such as changing student populations, staffing models, training for campus pastors, programs, advocacy, partnership and funding questions. "The value of campus ministry has been expressed to me by non-Lutheran faculty and university staff as being a moral voice in the life of a university," said the Rev. Elizabeth A. Platz, campus pastor at the University of Maryland, College Park. "The touching of personal lives, the affirmation of the ELCA being in the arena of education and ideas, and being rooted in the word and sacrament have been the strength of campus ministry," said Platz. She is a member of the board and served on the think tank. On university campuses across the country 144 campus pastors and lay professionals minister on behalf of the ELCA. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html