Many churches have relinquished their role as advocates for justice in an age of increasing privatization, a specialist on such matters from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) told an audience of pastors and church professionals here this week.

"The prophetic dimension of the church has been seriously neglected during a devolution of government responsibility" for society's poor and disadvantaged, said Dr. Karen L. Bloomquist, director for studies for the ELCA's Division for Church and Society. Bloomquist was the keynoter for the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia's annual three day spring convocation held on the Seminary's 7301 Germantown Avenue campus. Headquarters for the 5.2 million-member ELCA denomination is in Chicago, and nearly 200 Lutheran congregations are in the immediate Philadelphia locale.

Bloomquist said the church's roots, dating from the time of Martin Luther in the 1500s, call for believers to work to change the policies and practices that prevail against justice and "to connect the street and altar. Believers are transformed by addressing injustice. We need to gain a fresh appreciation for the heart of the Gospel through public ministry and a broader participation in public life."

In a presentation on the global economy, Bloomquist acknowledged that "many people are doing well economically today." She said it's critical not to let that knowledge obscure the predicament of the 1.3 billion people around the world who are "denied economic prosperity. The disparity continues to grow between those who are doing well and those who are not…"

Some 200 alumni and friends of LTSP from as far away as Japan and Hawaii attended the Seminary's annual spring convocation over three days. Founded in 1864, the Seminary is one of eight across the national church and has a total enrollment of more than 400. Currently the Seminary is completing construction of a $6 million Student Residence.