July 29, 2008

CHICAGO – About 40 teaching theologians of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gather July 29-Aug. 1 in Prior Lake, Minn., for a multicultural seminar, "New Day Begun: Engaging Our Wholeness." The invited guests are theologians of color or whose primary language is not English, with a representative group of white theologians.

"The multicultural seminar brings together ELCA theologians of color to engage in a dynamic discussion about the calling of the church in the 21st century to be racially, ethnically and culturally inclusive," said Rosemary Dyson, associate executive director, ELCA Multicultural Ministries.

"Conversations at the event will focus on the theological and social realities that contribute to our understanding of mission in today's multicultural settings," said the Rev. Gregory J. Villalon, associate executive director for leadership development and director for multicultural leadership development, ELCA Vocation and Education.

Villalon said teaching theologians of color "have a lot to contribute to the mission work of the ELCA. Their insights can help this church increase the number of hands doing God's work in our community and in the world."

The multicultural seminar is an opportunity "to reflect on how we as a church can do mission more effectively – honoring and recognizing the successes and failures of the past and moving forward together into the future – into a new day in the life of the ELCA where hands of every color join together to do God's work at home and in the world," Villalon said.

Dyson said advances in the church prompted the "New Day Begun" theme. When the ELCA formed in 1988 "you could count the number of theologians (of color) on one hand. Now we have more than 40," she said.

"The growth in the number of theologians of color, multicultural leaders and multicultural congregations signals a new day has begun in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," Dyson said. "The new day gives us an opportunity for celebration, reclaiming and claiming anew our gifts for the wholeness of our communities and the ELCA."

The first multicultural seminar, in October 2004, celebrated the teaching ministry of the Rev. Albert "Pete" Pero, emeritus professor of systematic theology, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). This second seminar will honor the Rev. Edmond Yee, professor of Asian studies and director of the Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) program, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), Berkeley, Calif. LSTC and PLTS are two of eight ELCA seminaries.

ELCA Multicultural Ministries, ELCA Vocation and Education, and LSTC sponsor the multicultural seminar. Multicultural Ministries guides the ELCA in the multicultural dimensions of the church's work. Vocation and Education is responsible for development and support of faithful, wise and courageous leaders whose vocations serve God's mission in the world.

ELCA News Service