06.06.2006
ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls Church to Action, Prayer for Darfur, Sudan
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has called on the church to learn about and discuss the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, western Sudan and, most of all, pray for the people there.In a message to the ELCA on 19 May, Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), noted there was "cautious, hopeful news" about the Darfur region with the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement on 5 May 2006 between the Sudanese government and the Sudan Liberation Movement. He credited the United States' government, African Union and international community for facilitating the peace pact, and urged the US Congress to approve more than USD 400 million for humanitarian and peacekeeping aid to Sudan in the 2006 fiscal year.
Hanson noted that the ELCA, LWF and the Geneva-based churches' emergency response body, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International and other relief agencies were providing needed supplies in Sudan. He urged the ELCA members to be consistent advocates for justice for all people, including those in the Darfur region. (189 words)
The text of Bishop Hanson's statement, including links to resources, is at www.elca.org/bishop/m_darfur.html on the ELCA Web site.
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