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Chicago (ELCA)-JAC* — As an extension of the Lutheran World Federation's (LWF) Tenth Assembly July 21-31 in Winnipeg, Canada, the LWF in conjunction with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will provide post-assembly visitation programs in the United States and the Carribean.
There are 25 separate sites that will host post-assembly visits within the ELCA. These sites include several of the ELCA's 65 synods and range geographically from Alaska to the U. S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The sites provide programs that range from three to 10 days depending on location.
The visits will include Washington, D. C., and the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod, said Kathy J. Magnus, North America regional officer for the Lutheran World Federation. For example, in Washington, D. C., Lutherans from throughout the world will learn about how the ELCA works with government officials on issues such as relief, immigration and refugee concerns and others.
"We've got people from Ethiopia, Hungary, Romania, Indonesia, Italy, Sierra Leone, Austria, Namibia and India who are registered for that event," Magnus said.
According to Magnus, the individuals who signed up for the trip to Washington, D. C. are interested in advocacy for church in government. It's about the exchange of information, she said.
"This one in Washington I believe will be absolutely fascinating," Magnus said.
The site in northwestern Minnesota should also be interesting, according to Magnus. The northwestern Minnesota visit will explain how disasters are dealt with by the ELCA.
Currently, 110 international guests are registered for the post-assembly visitation programs. This number will be augmented by ELCA missionaries, international Lutheran seminary students and ELCA members who are interested in global mission, said Magnus.
While the ELCA usually holds two annual Global Mission Events, this year the conferences have been deferred in lieu of the visitation programs. The events usually have hundreds of attendees, and Magnus said that many of these attendees are expected to join the visitation groups this year.
For international guests, measures are being taken to assist them with travel. Currently, the LWF is sending letters of invitation to aid international travelers in obtaining visas. In case of last minute problems, Magnus said that the LWF is prepared.
"What we're hoping to have is a 'fallback' site in Winnipeg in case some people aren't allowed into the U. S.," Magnus said.
The LWF is a global communion of 136 churches in 76 countries, and is composed of almost 62 million Lutherans. It provides leadership training, theological education, medical care and human rights advocacy. The LWF assembly is held every six or seven years.
*Jessica A. Crane is completing her degree at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media production.