Posted on 06/20/2008 4:22:26 PM PDT by lightman
June 20, 2008
ELCA Bishop Calls for Prayer, Action Concerning Domestic Disasters
08-095-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), asked the 4.8 million-member church to join him in "prayer and action" for people facing adversity this spring after tornadoes and floods struck the central United States and the humanitarian crisis following an immigration raid in Postville, Iowa.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested about 390 workers May 12 at a meat processing plant in Postville, making the raid the largest at a single location in U.S. history.
"With a swiftness that we could not have imagined only weeks ago, the waters have brought chaos to a large area of the central United States," Hanson wrote in a June 20 letter to members of the ELCA.
"Tornadoes have caused fatalities in 15 states, and at least 11 synods" of the ELCA's 65 synods are "involved in relief operations with ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, an unprecedented number in our history," wrote Hanson. He cited also the flooding that is moving south along the Mississippi River valley.
Hanson asked members of the church to "pray for all who are facing adversity, including the hidden challenges that seep in after media attention leaves; the destruction of this year's crop and the productivity of cropland for years to come; the loss of homes and neighborhoods; the severing of ties from each other and histories in particular places; and the troubling emotions and thoughts that erode confidence and faith. Pray that God's Spirit sustain them in the hope of God's faithfulness, shown to us in Jesus Christ."
The ELCA has issued a Disaster Alert outlining ways members of the church can participate in recovery from the floods and tornadoes.
"Please join me in an outpouring of love that is equal not only to the depth of the waters, but even more to the fullness of Jesus' life in us and to the Spirit's renewing work in the world," said Hanson.
- - - The full text of Hanson's letter is available at http://archive.ELCA.org/bishop/messages/m_080620.html and ELCA Disaster Alerts are at http://archive.ELCA.org/disaster/article.asp?id=95&mode=1 on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog:www.elca.org/news/blog
Gotta keep that open-border agenda before the flock.

No different than some other main stream Churches including the one that harbors these criminals...
Wonder if he has considered that the horrible weather events may be God’s judgment on a wayward nation....nah.
No, but there is a thinly veiled hint that the flooding might be a punishment for the immigration raid. Note how the story moves from mention of the raid to a description of the flood "with a suddeness..."
Thank you for posting this. Would you kindly add me to your ping list? I would appreciate it very much.
How ‘bout stop being a demonination that is pushing homosexuality and ‘debating it’ as to whether it’s good or bad? How ‘bout leaving the pro-choice position?
Maybe then God will start listening to you on the items you are concerned about.
True, true, true. Seems like they’re all swimming in the theological toilet.
Thhat wouldn’t be inclusive and would be judgemental and intolerant. I think you’re going to be assigned to a re-education camp in the next life...
I will post a follow-up if Rev. Hicks actually answers this (if the shock doesn't give me a heart attack).
How about a question on why the ELCA is pushing so hard for open borders and the virtual dismantling of ICE?
Have you ever met Rev. Sherman Hicks? He is the Executive Director of the Multicultural Ministries and the representative from the ELCA to the DE-MD Synod Assembly.
Is he an uncle to Taylor Hicks?
Seriously—no. But if I did ever meet him I’d ask why the Pennsylvania Dutch aren’t considered an ethnic group to be cultivated with an “evangelism strategy”.
Im surprised Hanson didn’t throw a global warming link in there
LOL! Doubtful based on visible ethnography - Sherman Hicks is black.
He answered my question with expert dissembling - It's not the ELCA, it's the grass roots. Everything is driven from the congregations to the conferences to the synods up to the ELCA. No mention of who determines who is allowed to participate (and set the agendas) of the task forces.
I will send you a private FReepmail in a few...
I told a friend I am now officially ashamed to be a member of the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA. Not only did the morons at the assembly vote to oppose the slots referendum, they voted to ask to have taxes increased instead! I could understand the former (despite disagreeing) but asking the government of the Peoples Democratic State of Maryland to raise taxes is about as bright as offering an addict a loaded crack pipe. They also voted down a memorial to condemn the hateful actions of the Westboro Baptist Church and their ilk.
WOW!
Delaware-Maryland Synod takes "inclusivity" to new heights (or is it lows?) by not wanting to offend even the most offensive and tolerating the intolerant.
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