wfn.org | $1 Million Will Launch ELCA Program 'In the City for Good'

[Frank Imhoff <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 26, 1998

$1 MILLION WILL LAUNCH ELCA PROGRAM 'IN THE CITY FOR GOOD'
98-30-176-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
will begin distributing grants in February for innovative urban ministries
of the ELCA thanks to a $1-million grant from the Lutheran Brotherhood
Foundation, Minneapolis.  The money will help the church's Division for
Outreach launch a 10-year emphasis, "In the City for Good."
     "The ELCA has declared that we are 'In the City for Good,'" said the
Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA.  "We are excited
about the potential to strengthen our outreach in cities of the United
States and Caribbean through a decade-long urban ministry emphasis."
     "This significant financial commitment from Lutheran Brotherhood
creates an alliance in which our respective missions of evangelism and
fraternal activities converge," said Anderson.  "We are thankful that
Lutheran Brotherhood joins the ELCA in building a solid foundation for
urban mission in the 21st century."
     "This $1-million grant exemplifies Lutheran Brotherhood's commitment
to aid Lutheran ministries and congregations as well as how we serve
through stewardship," said Robert P. Gandrud, Lutheran Brotherhood
president and CEO.
     "For 'In the City for Good' to be successful new partnerships, new
dollars, new opportunities were necessary," said the Rev. Richard A.
Magnus, executive director of the ELCA Division for Outreach.
     An "In the City for Good" fund team hopes to award $500,000 in grants
each year to help local congregations adapt to and transform their
neighborhoods.  The division will assemble the team for its first meeting
this fall.
     The $1 million will be given to the Division for Outreach over the
next five years and combined with money from the division's budget, the
ELCA Church Council and the church's Vision for Mission Fund.  "Lutheran
Brotherhood has also provided dollars for evaluation of the grants that are
to be given so that learning from the new work can assist the whole
church," said Magnus.
     "Lutheran Brotherhood's commitment for $1 million is deeply
appreciated because it gives significant new dollars to begin the funding
process," said Magnus, "and it gives the Division for Outreach and the ELCA
time to build the resources that will be used after the first five years."
     The ELCA Church Council established an endowment fund within the ELCA
Foundation to support "In the City for Good" grants on an ongoing basis.
     "The 'In the City for Good' endowment fund provides an exceptional
opportunity to support innovative urban ministries," Gandrud added.
     "In the City For Good" calls for new education programs for urban lay
leaders, culturally relevant worship opportunities, support for the
training of urban pastors, and cooperation with community groups in solving
neighborhood problems.  It also provides a benchmark by which congregations
can assess their strengths and weaknesses.
     "We must build on our strengths," said the Rev. Jerrett L. Hansen of
Baltimore.  "We are present.  We are visible.  We are already in every
major city in the United States."
     Hansen is the Division for Outreach's mission director in Maryland,
Delaware and the District of Columbia.  He also leads the division's urban
ministry team.
     "In the City for Good" presents "a three-dimensional vision" of
transforming people's lives, congregations and communities.  "Until
people's hearts are changed nothing else will change," said Hansen.
"Congregations must be in touch with and committed to their contexts."
     Lutheran Brotherhood is a member-owned fraternal benefit society of
1.1 million Lutherans joined together for financial security, benevolent
outreach and volunteer service.  Lutheran Brotherhood's mission is to
improve the quality of life for its members, to strengthen communities and
to aid Lutheran congregations and institutions.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html