ELCA To Holds Forum on Poverty, Wealth November 7-9

October 22, 2002

CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will host a forum on the relationship between poverty and wealth, considering the effects of current and future U.S. legislation on people living in poverty. The forum will be held here Nov. 7-9 at the Institute of Cultural Affairs Conference Center.

The forum will bring together a "diverse" group of ELCA members, ecumenical and international guests to examine the church's activity on combating poverty, explore opportunities for advocacy, and address the impact of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States on poverty-related work in the ELCA.

"The forum is taking place at a time when new reports from the U.S. census bureau indicate an increase in people living in poverty and one of the biggest losses of personal income, primarily among middle- class White families, since 1991," said Loretta E. Horton, director for social ministries for congregations, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries.

Horton said the forum is the first gathering in which members of the ELCA not only address the topic of poverty but "poverty in relationship to wealth."

"In the midst of recent instability with the stock market and downturn in the economy, there are some sectors in this country that have not been affected by the economic slumps. We still have massive poverty in the midst of wealth and over-abundance. That is a justice issue that the church must respond to not only domestically but internationally," Horton said.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, will open the forum. Presenters include the Rev. H. George Anderson, former presiding bishop of the ELCA, Prospect Heights, Ill.; Damu Smith, coordinator of Black Voices for Peace, Washington, D.C.; the Rev. Charles S. Miller, ELCA executive for administration and executive assistant to the presiding bishop; the Rev. Mark R. Moller-Gunderson and the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive directors, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries.

Anderson will outline the history of the Lutheran church's work in fighting poverty from the 1700s to present day; Smith will analyze the relationship between poverty and wealth in the United States; Miller will discuss the ELCA's Ministry Among Persons in Poverty (MAPP); Moller-Gunderson and Bullock will discuss wealth in the church and the importance of calling attention to poverty and wealth among members of the ELCA.

"The series of presentations will lead up to a brainstorming session, where participants will set direction for the ELCA's future work on poverty and wealth," Horton said.

Participants will also form a response to challenges brought forth in a "Pastoral Letter on Wealth and Poverty" issued March 7, 2000, to members of the church by the ELCA Conference of Bishops, an advisory body composed of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary. Challenges in the letter include expanding "ministries of advocacy on behalf of the voiceless and vulnerable in society," affirming and supporting "Lutheran institutions, church-based community organizations, and other faith-based efforts to stand with the hungry, homeless, oppressed and imprisoned," and strengthening "efforts which call forth the power of the working poor."

A report based on the outcome of the forum will be shared with the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, Conference of Bishops and ELCA Church Council – the church's board of directors and legislative authority between ELCA churchwide assemblies.

Other recipients of the report include the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, Division for Church in Society, Division for Global Mission, Division for Outreach and Women of the ELCA – the women's organization of the church. Members of MAPP, the ELCA staff team for Women and Children Living in Poverty, ELCA World Hunger Appeal and Program staff, Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA) staff and state public policy officers will also receive the report. LOGA is the ELCA's federal public policy advocacy office in Washington, D.C., and a program of the Division for Church in Society.

The forum is funded in part by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a fraternal benefit organization based in Minneapolis. Information about the Forum on Poverty and Wealth is available at http://www.elca.org/dcm/socialministry/ForumPoverty&Wealth.html on the Internet. The ELCA Conference of Bishops' Pastoral Letter on Wealth and Poverty is at http://www.elca.org/ob/wealth.html on the Internet.

ELCA News Service