Lutherans to vote on ties with other churches

Delegates to the biennial conference of the Evangelical LutheranChurch in America will decide by next week whether to finalizehistoric connections with several other Christian denominations.

The ELCA, meeting in Philadelphia, is expected to vote Sundaynight or Monday on documents establishing "full communion" statuswith the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Church of Christ and theReformed Church in America. A separate vote is also scheduled onestablishing full communion with the Episcopal Church in the UnitedStates.

The moves could affect as many as 15 million Americans in thosedenominations. The other churches have already agreed to theprovisions which, while not merging the bodies, allow for closercollaboration. It is considered to be one of the strongestecumenical moves since the Reformation.The church is headquartered in Chicago.Clergy spread warningIn an unusual collaboration between government and church, theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency sought - and received -assistance from Chicago area clergy on a pesticide problem.The EPA asked 2,500 area churches to help inform theircongregations about improper use of the pesticide methyl parathion.Officials discovered the outdoor pesticide had been sprayedillegally indoors in hundreds of Chicago homes by an unlicensedexterminator, Ruben Brown, who pleaded guilty in the case. The EPAasked churches to help encourage those whose homes might have beencontaminated to call a hotline for free testing.EPA spokeswoman Phillippa Cannon conceded this was an "unusualrequest," but noted clergy could help some people overcome theirreluctance to contact the government for help. "Quite a fewministers called for fact sheets and brochures" to pass out to theircongregations, Cannon said.The toll-free hotline number is (888) 889-6542.Jakes crusadeBishop T.D. Jakes, Texas preacher, author and singer, isbringing his ministry to Chicago.Jakes, whose book Woman, Thou Art Loosed (Albury Publishing),has sold nearly 1 million copies, will be at UIC Pavilion, 525 S.Racine, Aug. 22-23. He will preach at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, and 10a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. Admission is free.Criswell to preachDr. W.A. Criswell, outspoken former president of the SouthernBaptist Convention, will preach in the south suburbs Sunday.Criswell, the pastor of the 30,000-member First Baptist Churchof Dallas for 52 years, will be at the Ashburn Baptist Church, 153rdand Wolf, Orland Park, for the 11 a.m. service.Nuclear launch opposedPax Christi USA, the National Catholic Peace Movement, has askedPresident Clinton to halt the launch of a NASA rocket containingplutonium.The rocket, called the Cassini Probe, will contain more than 70pounds of the radioactive material during a mission to explore one ofSaturn's moons. It is scheduled to blast off Oct. 6. Bishop WalterSullivan of Richmond, Vaa., Pax Christi president, said the groupfears an accident with the highly toxic element "could produce adreadful global catastrophe."George in ParisArchbishop Francis George of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese ofChicago is in Paris through Aug. 24 with more than 100 Chicago youthscelebrating World Youth Day.World Youth Day events will take place at more than 100locations throughout Paris. On Aug. 20, George will lead a teachingsession for 4,000 people, titled "Searching for the Face of theLord."On Aug. 22, Pope John Paul II will move Frederic Ozanam, founderof the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, closer to sainthood. Severalpeople from Chicago, where the charitable activities of the group goback 140 years, will attend the ceremony.Naperville synagogueCongregation Beth Shalom is scheduled to break ground Sundayfor its new home, called the first "from-the-ground-up constructionof a synagogue in DuPage County."The 21,300-square-foot building will replace the congregation'scurrent home and will meet the needs of the more than 250 memberfamilies. It will house a sanctuary for 280 people, a social hall, a10-classroom school, a preschool and offices.Chapter and verseThe Metropolitan Arts Chorale and Chicago Oratorio Choir presentconcerts Aug. 21 and 23 to benefit the Interfaith Council for theHomeless and Tri-Village PADS. The Aug. 21 concert will be at 8 p.m.at the First United Methodist Chruch (Chicago Temple) in the Loop.The Aug. 23 event will be at 7:30 p.m. at St. Catherine of SiennaChurch, Oak Park. . . .Northern Illinois United Methodist laity are meeting thisweekend at the Hyatt Hotel, Lisle, for Convocation '97. Theconference, "Opening Our Eyes, Empowering Our Response," consists ofworship services, bible studies and workshop sessions designed toencourage lay ministry. . . . Madonna High School students collectedand donated $1,000 to the Roman Catholic Archdiocesan Maternity Fund,a source of financial aid for expectant mothers without insurance.The money was accepted by Archbishop Francis George. . . .Avalon Park Community Church (UCC) holds its 13th annualrevival, "Growing in Christ," Aug. 18-22. Sessions are each night at7 p.m. at the church, 8100 S. Dante. . . . Faith World Outreach,Bartlett, hosts Mark T. Barclay Sunday and Monday. . . . The Rev.Titus Lee and Voice of Triumph Ministries plan a Bridging the GapYouth Explosion Aug. 22-23 at New Friendship Missionary BaptistChurch, 3620 W. 139th St. The theme is "Taking a Stand" againstviolence, drugs and premarital sex. . . . Sybel and Harvey Thomas,members of Park Manor Christian Church, 600 E. 73rd, have beenhonored by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. They weregiven the church's Faithful Servant Award during the denomination'sGeneral Assembly in Denver in July.