March 4, 2008

CHICAGO – 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.

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.

ELCA News Service