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Milwaukee (ELCA)-JAC* — Elevnie K. Huszagh, president, National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC), addressed voting members of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Aug. 14. Huszagh is an attorney and a member of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America. She resides in Nehalem, Ore.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines Center. There are about 2,100 people participating, including 1,031 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: For the Healing of the World."
Huszagh said churches need to take a stand on issues. During the war with Iraq, the NCC spoke against the war and was consequently viewed as unpatriotic. Christians shouldn't fear speaking out when something is wrong, she said.
"We need to understand that the world is different," she said, referring to a number of world events that have occurred in the past few years.
Huszagh called for leadership within national and international church organizations. She said strong leaders are important.
"We rely on you," she said. "Identify leaders and send them to us."
The NCC, founded in 1950, includes 36 denominations and represents 50 million Christians. The ELCA is a member of the NCC.
* Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. She is an intern this summer for ELCA News and Media Production.