ELCA Churchwide Secretary Recounts Denomination's Short History

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- "We walk in the footsteps of giants," the secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America told voting members meeting in Churchwide Assembly here Aug. 14-20.  Reporting to more than 1,000 fellow Lutherans, the Rev. Lowell G. Almen reflected the ELCA's biennial assembly theme, "Making Christ Known: Alive in our Heritage and Hope."  Almen quoted pioneer Lutheran pastor and churchman, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, who said in 1748, "A twisted cord of many threads will not easily break."  Muhlenberg, who helped organize the first Lutheran synod in North America at a Philadelphia meeting that year, is considered the patriarch of American Lutheranism.
     Almen's reference to Muhlenberg was intended to remind voting members not only of their heritage but also of  their responsibility as a church. Almen said, "[Muhlenberg's 'twisted cord'] note of unity was crucial for that historic moment.  The same note of unity remains essential for our ongoing life together."
     The secretary reviewed the ten-year history of the 5.2-million-member ELCA.  He punctuated his historical reflections with humorous recollections of how the nation's largest Lutheran group found its footing.
     He recalled his 1987 election to office and then moving first into temporary office space in Chicago.  "I carried in my suitcase from Minneapolis some paper clips, file folders, pens, pencils, notepads, and paper."  When a colleague asked him how to requisition a desk, since such furniture was in short supply, he replied succinctly: "Midnight acquisition" --  meaning if nobody is using it when you want it, it's yours.
     He highlighted for his audience the serious and lighter sides of five biennial churchwide assemblies.
     He recalled the 1989 Chicago assembly.  "That first assembly celebrated our unity as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America."
     At the 1991 Orlando assembly the topics of ecumenism and abortion filled the agenda.  The abortion statement, Almen said, "set a healthy tone for moral reflection."
     He recalled seeing an amusing "work in process" at Orlando.  Workmen changing the assembly announcement boards paused in mid-project to display the message, "Welcome Evangelical Lutheran Yamaha Motors."  Quipped the secretary, "Now that would have been an interesting merger."
     At the 1993 Kansas City assembly voters approved the report of a study of ministry  which addressed questions the combining predecessor churches had left unanswered. Voting members adopted positive statements on ethnicity and culture, and on the care of creation.
     The 1995 Minneapolis assembly saw the end of first Presiding Bishop Herbert W. Chilstrom's second four-year term and the election of his predecessor, the Rev. H. George Anderson.  Almen himself was re-elected for six additional years of service.
     The church's secretary noted a troubling fact.  He said, "On average, only 30 percent of our baptized members are in worship on a given Sunday." He called such limited participation a matter of ongoing concern.
     He concluded his remarks by repeating Muhlenberg's words: "A twisted cord of many threads will not easily break."  He said, "Woven together into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are most of the threads of Lutheran history and heritage in North America."
     We are, he said, braided together in the ELCA for strength and mission.

For information contact:

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