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Social
Statements | Economic Life
| Resolutions


1. To adopt "Sufficient,
Sustainable Livelihood for All" as a social
statement of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in
accordance with "Policies
and Procedures of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for
Addressing Social Concerns" (1997);
2. To call upon members of this church to pray,
work, and advocate that all might have a sufficient, sustainable
livelihood, and to draw upon this statement in forming their own
judgments and actions in their ministries in daily life;
3. To call upon our bishops, pastors, and other
rostered leaders to give renewed attention to how Scripture,
liturgy, preaching, hymnody, and prayers may express God's will for
economic life and empower a faith active for justice, and to provide
leadership in seeking economic justice in their communities;
4. To challenge all congregations, synods, and
churchwide units to carry out the substance and spirit of this
statement and intensify their work with various ecumenical,
interfaith, and secular groups in pursuit of its commitments;
5. To encourage the education, service, and
outreach ministries of this church in their work for economic
justice;
6. To urge churchwide units and affiliated
organizations (social ministry organizations, schools, colleges and
universities, and seminaries) to review and adjust their programs
and practices in light of this social statement;
7. To direct the Division
for Church in Society, in cooperation with other churchwide
units, to provide leadership, consultation, and educational and
worship resources on the basis of this statement, particularly
through the development of resources that interpret this statement
and develop its implications for different arenas of responsibility;
8. To direct the Division
for Church in Society to expand its work in advocating for
corporate social responsibility, in assisting with community
economic development, and in public policy advocacy that furthers
the various commitments made in this statement;
9. To call upon the members of this church to
give generously to the World
Hunger Appeal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, so
that the Lutheran
World Federation, Lutheran
World Relief, domestic hunger grants, and our partner ecumenical
agencies might do more in helping to alleviate the causes and
consequences of hunger, poverty, and injustice; and to call upon the
members of this church to participate actively in supporting these
and similar ministries;
10. To call upon the educational institutions of
this church—schools, colleges and universities, seminaries,
continuing education centers, camps, and retreat centers—to
develop programs and educational resources in light of this
statement so people can be better prepared to respond to the
challenges of economic life.
11. To direct the Church Council to report to
the 2001 Churchwide Assembly any changes in policies or procedures
and their intended effects taken by the Church Council or churchwide
units in response to the social statement, "Sufficient,
Sustainable Livelihood for All."
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