TIDBITS - Plenary 7

Rev. Deborah DeWinter from the World Council of Churches brought greetings and thanks on behalf of the secretary general of the WCC. She recognized the ELCA's commitment to ecumenism, particularly its commitment to providing mentoring to young adult leaders in the ecumenical movement. She spoke of "the gifts of grace inherent in every tradition and in every culture around the world," and of the WCC's mission to develop "an ecumenical space, a holy space for engagement in God's word."

Clare Chapmann brought greetings from the council and member churches of the National Council of Churches. She discussed the NCC's work with Augsburg Fortress to put an accurate, reliable translation of the Bible into the hands of people. Scripture is a "porch light" to us, she said, showing us where our home is. We must light the light for those in darkness, living scripture into our lives together. She described ways in which the NCC has applied this witness to issues of social justice - food, security and health - in the U.S.