Luther Institute Gives Wittenberg Award to Travel Writer, Host Rick Steves

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Luther Institute, an affiliate of the
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.), gave its
Wittenberg Award to Rick Steves, travel writer and host of "Rick
Steves' Europe" on public television stations.
     Steves and his family are members of Trinity Lutheran
Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) in Lynnwood, Wash. The Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     The Wittenberg Award recognizes outstanding service to
church and society. Representatives of the institute presented
the award March 3 to Steves following a lecture he gave at
Resurrection Lutheran Church, Arlington, Va.  Resurrection is an
ELCA congregation.
     Steves, who emphasizes "conscientious travel," in which
travelers engage the local culture, planned to meet March 4 with
members of the U.S. Congress to discuss international development
assistance.  He also planned to speak at a Washington, D.C.,
event co-sponsored by Bread for the World and the Luther
Institute on how his travel experiences influence his social
activism.  Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizens
movement that works through advocacy with government leaders for
justice for the world's people who are living with hunger.  The
ELCA is one of Bread for the World's partner church organizations
and Steves raises funds for Bread.
     The Luther Institute promotes the exercise of faith in the
public square through education, public discourse, theological
reflection and attentive listening. Established as a pan-
Lutheran, nonpartisan educational organization, the Institute
serves Lutherans and other Christians from the nation's capital.
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     Information about the Luther Institute is at
http://www.lutherinst.org on the Web.

     Information about Rick Steves is at
http://www.ricksteves.com/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog