04/17/2014

ELCA Global Links Newsletter for May 2014--Share with Your Congregation How We are Connected Globally

The following is from the May 2014 'Global Links' newsletter from the ELCA Global Mission Unit. You may download the PDF version of this newsletter below to share with your congregation.

Middle East: Presiding Bishop Eaton, other religious leaders, focus on peace
Saying that “with God all things are possible,” ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton joined more than 40 other church leaders in the U.S. and Jerusalem in supporting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to find "a secure and just peace" between Israel and Palestine. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/7653.

Israel: Law categorizing Palestinian Christians raises concerns
The World Council of Churches has expressed “grave concern” about a law recently approved by Israel that makes a legal distinction between Palestinian Christians and Muslims. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/PeaceNotWalls/222.

Malaysia: ELCA supports Christians on universal ‘Allah’ usage
The ELCA stands with Malaysian Christians as they maintain their historic right to use “Allah” in referring to God in the Malay-language Bible and other publications. See www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=11949.

Our Global Church – 2014 Directory now available
Get to know many of our 240+ missionaries (including 60 Young Adults in Global Mission), learn about new global ministries and discover how you can expand educational opportunities for international women. For a free copy of our annual directory (no shipping and handling), call 800-638-3522 or email RIS@elca.org.

Rwanda: A new ministry
It’s been 20 years since the horror, but “the reality of the genocide colors everything here,” says the Rev. Kate Warn, the country coordinator for the new ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program in Rwanda. “As I begin to settle into a new life in Rwanda … I've had a sense that living here means living with many questions.” Read more at www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/HandInHand/419.

Cameroon: Health ministries and sustainable development
ELCA missionaries Willie and Anne Langdji serve throughout West Africa in health ministries and sustainable development. Learn more about ELCA engagement in Cameroon and make an online gift to support their ministry at http://search.ELCA.org/Pages/OurWork/Cameroon.aspx.

United Kingdom: Support and follow Young Adults in Global Mission!
Ten young adults are serving for a year helping youth in such areas as special needs, music and education. These young leaders serve people who are homeless, the elderly, and in Christian Conference Centers. Learn more and make a gift to support them at http://search.ELCA.org/Pages/OurWork/United-Kingdom.aspx. Or email globalchurch@elca.org to request a profile and list of their blogs.

Hungary: Building relationships
As a Young Adult in Global Mission, Ole Schenk teaches English and religion and also builds relationships with the Roma people. Download or order the winter Hand in Hand bulletin insert or newsletter at www.ELCA.org/Resources/ELCA-Global-Church-Sponsorship.

Global community of Lutherans is growing
The Lutheran World Federation communion is growing with a 2.1 percent increase in global membership since statistics were last gathered in 2011, bringing membership to more than 72 million. See www.Facebook.com/GlobalLinks.

ELCA young adults join U.N. meeting on women’s rights
Without social and economic change, gender inequality around the world will continue to grow was among the messages a delegation representing four ministries of the ELCA took away from the recent U.N. meeting on women’s rights. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/7658.

‘Why Follow Luther Past 2017?’
A new resource from the ELCA Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Jewish Relations looks to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and lifts up four of Luther's theological principles as instructive for inter-religious engagement. To download, go to the "Inter-Religious" tab at www.ELCA.org/Resources/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations.

In our prayers
Remember in your prayers the Rev. Justin and Kari Eller, ELCA missionaries in Argentina where Justin is the regional representative. (This prayer suggestion for May 21 is available in May along with daily prayers for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA at www.ELCA.org/prayerventures.)

To download a PDF copy of this newsletter, please visit the Global Links webpage at http://www.elca.org/Resources/ELCA-Global-Church-Sponsorship.