ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other Religious Leaders, Meet with Obama

[NEWS at ELCA.ORG]

Title: ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other Religious Leaders, Meet with Obama
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 12, 2008  

ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other Religious Leaders, Meet with Obama
08-087-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was among
more than 30 national Christian leaders who met here June 10 with
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the presumptive Democratic
nominee for president.  Hanson was invited by Obama's staff to
meet privately with the Senator in a meeting in which Darfur, the
Iraq war, gay rights, abortion and faith issues were discussed,
the Associated Press reported.
     Hanson said the meeting's purpose seemed to be an effort by
Obama "to begin a process of being engaged with a diverse group
of religious leaders."  Attendees included leaders of
Evangelical, Protestant and Roman Catholic churches and
organizations, he said.
     Among other things, Hanson said he explained to Obama that
Lutherans "are on the ground" throughout the world, providing
ministries that include disaster relief, response to HIV and AIDS
and other diseases, alleviation of poverty and community
development.  Churches and other non-governmental agencies need a
strong U.S. government partner to provide effective global
healing ministries, Hanson said he told Obama.
     Hanson also told Obama that next week he will visit churches
and church leaders in Kenya and Tanzania.  In Tanzania Hanson
will chair a regular meeting of the Lutheran World Federation
Council (LWF), in his role as LWF president.  Obama has family
roots in that region of Africa.
     "Reaching out to the faith community is a priority for
Barack Obama and will be a priority under an Obama
administration," Obama spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.
Psaki added that Obama is expected to meet again with religious
leaders in the coming months.
     Hanson said he hopes to get similar invitations from the
presumed Republican presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain
(R-Ariz.), and other presidential nominees.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news at elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog