ELCA Sets Hearings on its Economic Life Statement

3    Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver
3    Glade Run Lutheran Services, Zelienople, Pa.
11   Faith United Lutheran Church, Iron, Minn.
17   Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash.
17   Ken-Crest Centers, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
17   Nora Lutheran Church, Gardner, N.D.
18   Macksburg Lutheran Church, Canby, Ore.
24   Central Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa
24   First Lutheran Church, Carlisle, Pa.

November 1998
7    Columbia, S.C.
14   Christ Lutheran Church, Conyngham, Pa.

     Plans are being made to conduct hearings in five other areas: Atlanta; La Crosse, Wis.; New York; Washington, D.C.; and southern California.
     The draft statement invites its reader into a conversation, said Ingrid Christiansen, Chicago, who chairs the board of the ELCA's Division for Church in Society.  "It asks the questions: 'What is a sufficient sustainable livelihood for all?' 'How do we think about that?' 'What does "livelihood" mean?' 'What is sufficiency?' 'What is sustainable?' 'What does it mean that it is for all?' 'Do we really mean all people?'"
     Christiansen called it a respectful teaching document.  "It deals with all of us as people who have to have a livelihood and who take our obligation to our neighbor as well as to our families seriously," she said. "We hope that many Christians, many Lutherans will use it as an opportunity to think about the economy and money in their lives."
     The draft includes a response form.  "The whole idea of a draft document is that it is very much in process," said Christiansen.  "We are longing for feedback from congregations, from individuals, from anybody who has an opinion about it."
     Responses the Division for Church in Society receives by Dec. 1 will be used with input from the hearings to inform the development of a proposed social statement for consideration by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Denver.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director 1-773-380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html