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Subscribe now to Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Life via e-mail |
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 On
Saturday, August 22, 2009, Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, General
Secretary of
the Lutheran World Federation, spoke to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly
about our common missional unity.
Through the Lutheran World Federation, we are connected with
140 other Lutheran church bodies including more than 70 million
Lutherans in 79 countries throughout the world.
Watch
the the full video 
Read the 2009 LWF Greeting
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Full Communion Between
the ELCA and the United Methodist Church
 In 2008,
The United Methodist Church General Conference (akin to our
churchwide assembly) adopted an agreement between them and
the ELCA. On Thursday, August 20, by a vote of 958-51, the
2009 Churchwide Assembly adopted a full communion agreement
with the United Methodist Church. Full communion makes
possible a variety of joint ministries, sharing of resources
and interchangeability of clergy.
Read more...
 Confessing
Our Faith Together: Study and Discussion Guide
Building
a Relationship: UMC-ELCA Best Practices
ELCA-UMC
Frequently Asked Questions
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2009
Conference of Bishops' Academy II
 In
2005, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly passed the “Strategy for
Engagement of Israel and Palestine” which encouraged the
congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization to
be engaged in awareness building, accompaniment, and
advocacy. More than half of the 66 bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA), and five bishops of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) visited the
Middle East, Jan. 6-13, 2009. The second Academy is
scheduled for November 28 - December 8, 2009.
You are encouraged to read what bishops from the first Academy
are saying about their experience. Visit the
Post Holy Land Trip Resources webpage to read synod
generated supplements produced by The Lutheran
magazine.
For questions regarding the Bishops' Academy II trip, please
contact Marcia Johnson, Director for Synodical Support by
email.
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10th Anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of
Justification Between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran
World Federation and Affirmed by the World Methodist Council
in 2006
Thursday, October 1, 2009
6:30 p.m.
Old St. Patrick’s Church
700 West Adams Street • Chicago, Illinois 60661
Click here for the
invitation flyer
Righteous Before God - An Agreement on the Doctrine
of Justification
The 35-minute
videotape documents the signing ceremony and confirmation of
the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification on 31
October 1999 in Augsburg. It also provides the historical
background to the doctrinal dispute about justification and
the numerous dialogues and studies leading to the JDDJ. The
voices of many representatives of Lutheran and Roman
Catholic churches are recorded on the videotape, explaining
the significance of justification in the
current context, and how it can be made accessible to people
of today. To obtain a copy
of this videotape please contact: The Lutheran World
Federation, Office for Communication Services, Ms Béatrice
Bengtsson, P.O. Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland,
E-mail: bbe@lutheranworld.org. Please be sure to
indicate the tape format you require (PAL, SECAM, NTSC).
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You are invited
to a once-a-decade multi-faith forum of all levels of
religion communicators in Chicago, April 7-10, 2010. This
extraordinary event brings together over 1,200
communications professionals to expand our experience and
broaden our perspective on embracing change.
RCCongress 2010
is the place to be as we explore the changing landscape,
exchange views, educate ourselves, and embrace the challenge
of effectively communicating faith in today’s world.
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 Peace
Not Walls: Making a Difference in the Holy Land
The DVD, "Peace
Not Walls: Making a Difference in the Holy Land," offers
a dynamic introduction to the ELCA inter-religious work and
the Peace Not Walls campaign dedicated to peace with
justice in Israel-Palestine.
Click
here for other PNW resources.
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The
LERN network is a group of ELCA clergy and laypeople
appointed by their synodical bishops throughout the ELCA.
They are the eyes and ears of ecumenical and inter-religious
activity in their synods. LERN reps meet annually at
the
National Workshop on Christian Unity and with staff
members of the ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious
Relations Office. These representatives assist in meeting
the challenge of the
ELCA’s strategic directions
to authentically "step forward as a public church, support
congregations, assist synods, produce wise and courageous
leaders, and deepen and extend our global, ecumenical and
interfaith relationships."
LERNing Newsletter –
September 2009 Issue
2009
NWCU Presentation by Rev. Dr. Stephen J. Sidorak, Jr.,
General Secretary, General Commission on Christian Unity and
Interreligious Concerns, The United Methodist Church
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Holy Land Youth Mission 2010
Apply now for the
Holy Land Youth Mission Trip scheduled for July 8-22,
2010, sponsored by ELCA Global Mission, the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and the
Southeast Michigan Synod. The trip will be a mix of a
leadership, peace-building camp with Palestinian youth from
the ELCJHL and an opportunity to see ancient holy sites and
meet people of all faiths who are working together to
advocate for peace with justice.
Complete and return the application available
online. Cost is expected to be $2000 in addition to
airfare. Although the deadline is in December, spaces are
filling and limited. It is expected the trip will include
about 25 youth (from sophomore year in high school to age
22) and about 7 adults. Fundraising suggestions will soon be
available online. Email peacenotwalls@elca.org or call Julie
Rowe at 1-800 638 3522 Ext. 2720 with questions.
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 International
Day of Prayer for Peace
Monday,
September 21, 2009
WCC member churches
worldwide are once more invited to pray for
peace on 21 September 2009 or the closest
Sunday. The International Day of Prayer for
Peace offers an opportunity for church
communities in all places to pray and act
together to nurture lasting peace in the
hearts of people, their families,
communities and societies. The idea was
proposed in 2004 during a meeting between
WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (press
release),
and coincides with the UN International Day
of Peace. The Day of Prayer is one of the
initiatives of the WCC's Decade to Overcome
Violence. Congregations worldwide are
invited to pray for peace - possibly using
the same prayers - in all participating
churches on September 21 or the Sunday
preceding it.
Click here
for the 2009 Organizing Handbook.
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Edinburgh
2010
Next year the world church
celebrates the Centenary of the World Missionary Conference,
held in Edinburgh in 1910. Christians from all over the
world will join in unity and explore different ways of
witnessing to Christ today. Edinburgh 2010 is a
multi-denominational and international project set up to
commemorate the 1910 World Missionary Conference, and to
provide new perspectives on mission for the 21st century. To
find out more
click here.
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Christian
Churches Together in the USA
 Christian
Churches Together in the USA (CCT) is a new
forum growing out of a deeply felt need to
broaden and expand fellowship, unity, and
witness among the diverse expressions of
Christian faith today. CCT is inclusive of
the diversity of Christian families in the
United States — Evangelical, Orthodox, Roman
Catholic, Pentecostals, historic Protestant,
Racial and Ethnic churches.
View their new video to learn more.
2010 CCT-USA Annual Meeting
January
12-15, 2010
near Seattle,
Washington
Cedarbrook
Conference Center
Registration Form
- Due October 15, 2009
This will be an important and
inspiring gathering as we focus primarily on
evangelism. Dr. Mel Robeck of Fuller
Theological Seminary and Dr. Doug
Strong, Dean of Seattle Pacific University,
have agreed to serve as
keynoters as we look back to early American
Christianity, the Edinburgh
Conference of 1910, and grapple with our
cultural challenges today. Representatives
of Participant churches and organizations
are welcome to invite others of your group.
We hope each participant church will invite
at least one young adult leader, in addition
to any seminarians you might
invite to the Seminarian's Day on Wednesday,
January 13th.
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Parliament
of the World's Religions
Melbourne,
Australia
December 3-9, 2009
A Parliament is a
place to come together to listen and commit. Religious
leaders and activists from around the world will address
critical issues facing the global community. Over seven
days, delegates will choose from over 450 activities,
including daily morning observances of many traditions,
intrareligious and interreligious programs, models of
engagement, symposia, performances, open space dialogue and
exhibits.
Read more...
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New Fire 2009: Building the New Fire
 NCCC
Pre-Assembly Events for Young Adults
November 6-9, 2009
Minneapolis, MN
The New Fire gathering is a
Christian ecumenical forum for current and future
young adult leaders of different
communions/denominations and ecumenical initiatives,
which establishes a common space for: relationship
building, ecumenical education and formation,
leadership training, sharing of resources and best
practices, and strategic planning.
Click here for registration details (deadline is
October 23, 2009).
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Dr. Mary Mikhail and Dr. Muhammad Sammak’s Visits October 19–31,
2009
 Two
leading scholars and practitioners of Christian-Muslim dialogue in the
Middle East, Dr. Mary Mikhail and Dr. Muhammad Sammak, will be making
special stops at five seminaries and at church and mosque gatherings in
seven locations around the United States. They will speak about
Christian and Muslim life together in the Middle East, the challenges
and opportunities that are before each of their communities and new
developments in Muslim-Christian relations, and their significance for
Christians and Muslims in the United States.
Take a look at
the outline of their schedule and
read about the
team. |
 2009
Bernard Manekin Lecture with Dr. Paula Fredriksen
Thursday, October 15, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Chizuk Amuno Congregation
8100 Stevenson Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21208
This
event
is FREE and open to the public. To reserve a seat, your response is
kindly requested by October 8, 2009.
Please call 410-494-7161.
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Unveiled
by Rohina
 A
one-woman play, “Unveiled” by Rohina, will be presented on
November 12 at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) at 7:15 p.m. Five Muslim women in
a post-9/11 world serve tea and uncover what lies beneath
the veil. A pre-performance reception at 6:30 p.m. includes
samples of the five teas featured in the play, from Todd &
Holland. Middle East music will be performed by Jabal Music.
A discussion with the playwright will take place after the
play. Open to the public, a $5 donation is suggested for
non-students.
Click here for information about the playwright.
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Interfaith
Toolkit:
Full communion partner interfaith resource done in concert with the
ELCA.
This kit contains a
variety of resources to help as you engage with neighbors of faiths
other than your own, or prepare to do so. It contains “how to do it”
sorts of pieces, examples of what others have done, as well as more
reflective materials on interfaith relationship as an integral part of
being faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
Read
more...
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 J
Street was founded to promote meaningful American
leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian
conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. They support a new
direction for American policy in the Middle East and a broad
public and policy debate about the U.S. role in the region.
J Street represents Americans, primarily but not exclusively
Jewish, who support Israel and its desire for security as
the Jewish homeland, as well as the right of the
Palestinians to a sovereign state of their own - two states
living side-by-side in peace and security. We believe ending
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in the best interests of
Israel, the United States, the Palestinians, and the region
as a whole.
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 Your
Guide to Inter-Religious Life in the ELCA
This guide will help you and your congregation gain a
hands--on appreciation of
the inter-religious relations in the life of the church.
Navigate the waters of inter-religious relations, and take
opportunities to learn more about how you can be part of an
important journey.
Download as PDF file
If you wish to receive printed copies
of this resource, please call 773-380-2610.
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 ELCA
The "Fourth Expression" – Partner/Related Organizations
We share a strong, growing relationship with pan-Lutheran and
ecumenical partner ministries, such as Lutheran World Federation (LWF),
Lutheran Services in America (LSA), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Service (LIRS), Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and many more.
Learn why
our partners are so critical to this church’s mission.
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 lnter-Religious
Resources
Windows for Understanding: Jewish, Muslim, Lutheran
Relations
This resource offers
opportunities to learn more and become better informed. You
are invited to explore Windows and grow in your
faith. We encourage you to send us your comments and
suggestions by filling out the Evaluation Form on back of
Windows.
Additional
Inter-Religious Links:
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 Learn
About the ELCA's Inter-Religious Involvement
Get up-to-date on the many
relationships being cultivated by the staff of Ecumenical
and Inter-Religious Relations. In the August 2009
issue of The Lutheran magazine. Dr. Michael
Trice writes about the progress made so far, as well as
upcoming opportunities for further ministry.
Read more... |
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Augustine and the Jews: A
Christian Defense of Jews and Judaism
by
Paula Fredriksen
 In this densely argued and exhaustive
book, religion professor Fredriksen does for Augustine what
she has already done so brilliantly for the historical
Jesus. Drawing primarily on Augustine's
Confessions
and on his little-studied treatise,
Against Faustus,
she recreates the religious and political tensions of late
fourth-century Christianity in North Africa and its attempts
to understand its relationship to Judaism. While many early
Christian writers condemned Jews as killers of Christ,
Augustine turned the rhetorical tables on such polemic. Contrary to many
traditional interpretations, Fredriksen's deeply nuanced
study demonstrates that the bishop of Hippo's later writings
forcefully challenge the anti-Jewish tendencies of much of
early Christianity and offer fresh ways of thinking about
contemporary dialogue between the two religions.
Read more...
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Edinburgh 2010, Mission Then and Now by David
A. Kerr and Kenneth R. Ross
No one can hope to fully understand the
modern Christian missionary movement without engaging
substantially with the World Missionary Conference, held at
Edinburgh in 1910. As the centenary of the Conference
approaches, the time is ripe to examine its meaning in light
of the past century and the questions facing Christian
witness today. This book is the first to systematically
examine the eight Commissions which reported to Edinburgh
1910 and gave the conference much of its substance and
enduring value. It will deepen and extend the reflection
being stimulated by the upcoming centenary and will kindle
the missionary imagination for 2010 and beyond.
Read more...
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Revisioning Christian Unity: The
Global Christian Forum
 edited by Huibert van Beek
The book on the
Global Forum gathering that took place on 6 – 9 November
2007 at Limuru, Kenya has come out. It is published by
Regnum Books, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, UK, and can
be ordered at their website.
A reprint for North America is in
process by Wipf and Stock Publishers,
Eugene, Oregon, USA.
The book contains the papers that were presented at the
gathering, summaries of group discussions and plenary
presentations, stories of faith journeys, the Message issued
by the gathering and the Proposals for the Future, the Bible
studies, conference material as well as a narrative on the
origin of the Global Christian Forum and the process from
1998 onwards, and the reports of the three evaluations
carried out in 2008. It is meant to preserve the record of
the event and to be a resource for all who are interested in
the Global Christian Forum. |
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 West Bank and Gaza Closure Maps,
June 2009
These
maps show the closure system and the locations of
physical obstacles which block Palestinian movement on roads
in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The types of obstacles
include manned checkpoints, roadblocks, metal gates, earth
mounds, earth walls, trenches, and road protection.
Also visit the
Peace Not Walls website for further reading. |
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God, Creation, and Climate Change
edited by
Karen L. Bloomquist
Climate change is an urgent global
challenge that escalates other injustices and threatens
life, livelihood and the future of the planet as we have
known it. It also raises deeply spiritual and ethical
questions that faith communities must take up. In this book,
biblical scholars, theologians and ethicists from around the
world take up this challenge, by beginning with the actual
realities and faith questions being raised in the most
vulnerable communities. They creatively probe, revise and
develop perspectives, from Christian and other traditions,
that can inspire, guide, empower and sustain us for making
the significant changes in worldviews, practices and
policies needed at this
kairotic time.
Read more...
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One Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church
edited by Hans-Peter Grosshans
 This
publication documents a study on ecclesiology carried out by
the Department for Theology and Studies of the Lutheran
World Federation. In addition to Lutheran contributors, the
study has included voices from other denominations, and
taken into account how they understand the church as being
one holy, catholic and apostolic. It is vital that the
global communion of Lutheran churches pursue a common
theological discussion on the understanding and realization
of the one holy, catholic and apostolic church. Various
challenges affect how churches conceive of themselves as
being church, and a number of Lutheran churches find
themselves in historical processes of transition.
Read more...
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Having Words With God: The
Bible As Conversation
by Karl Allen Kuhn
 In
Having Words with God, Karl Kuhn introduces an approach to
Scripture that regards Scripture as a sacred dialogue
between God and humanity, and believers and one another. He
shows how the Bible bears witness to an ongoing conversation
which God initiates, inspires, and guides among humanity.
Together, he says, believers then discern and express the
character of God, God's will, and what it means to be God's
people. Kuhn illustrates the various ways Scripture both
embodies and invites believers into this sacred conversation
and he offers practical suggestions on how readers can make
use of this approach in their own study of Scripture.
Read more...
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Stones and Stories: An Introduction to Archaeology and the Bible
by Don C. Benjamin
 A
state-of-the-art introduction to the archaeological
exploration of Syria-Palestine from ancient times to current
excavations, Stones and Stories
introduces students to the history and methods of "biblical
archaeology." By correlating cultural patterns in different
archaeological eras with cultural patterns in the biblical
narratives, Benjamin describes the assumptions and methods
that have guided both scholars and amateurs — the faithful,
the skeptical, and the curious. Lavishly illustrated,
Stones and Stories
is simultaneously an accessible introduction to
archaeological method and an overview of what archaeology
has shown us regarding the worlds of the Bible.
Read more...
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Bethlehem Besieged: Hope in times of Trouble
by
Mitri Raheb
 Raheb's
powerful collection of compelling personal stories--stories
of desperation and hope in the midst of lethal
conflict--brings the Palestinian/Israeli conflict up close
and personal. Raheb's lifelong commitment to his people has
kept him in the legendary birthplace of Christianity, even
as it has become a flashpoint in the world's most volatile
and hate-filled conflict. Yet, even as tanks thunder through
Nativity Square, and even as he sees the lives of his
friends, his flock, and his family disrupted and destroyed,
Raheb also spies seeds of hope. His passionate personal
testimony lifts up the stray gesture toward friendship, the
brave attempts to rebuild life and livelihood in a destroyed
land, and the unquenchable desire for justice and peace.
Read more.... |
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