wfn.org | ELCA Evangelism Strategy Moves Forward

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 6, 2003

ELCA EVANGELISM STRATEGY MOVES FORWARD
03-041-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) --The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM) met here
Feb. 21-22 and took steps to finalize "Sharing Faith in a New Century: A
Vision for Evangelism in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" for
presentation to the ELCA Church Council and to the 2003 Churchwide
Assembly.  The board also endorsed other ministry plans.
     "Sharing Faith in a New Century" is a comprehensive strategy on
evangelism for the ELCA.  The board directed staff of the division to
make "necessary editorial changes" and to "prepare the final version of
the evangelism strategy document."  The final version will be forwarded
to the board's executive committee for presentation.  The council will
meet here April 4-7; the assembly will meet Aug. 11-17 in Milwaukee.
     "A strategy is now available," said Karen Walhof, Minneapolis, DCM
board chair.  What is "required to put this strategy into action are the
commitment of synods, the passion of congregations, and significant
funding. It is a bold strategy and the result, by the grace of God, can
be a renewing, enlivened church," Walhof said.
     Sharing Faith in a New Century is the work of the ELCA Evangelism
Strategy Task Force.  In cooperation with the ELCA Office of the
Presiding Bishop, DCM assembled the 33-member task force to develop the
strategy.  In a separate action, the board commended the task force "for
its faithful and diligent work."
     The Rev. Gary M. Wollersheim, bishop of the ELCA Northern Illinois
Synod, Rockford, outlined some primary objectives of the strategy.
Wollersheim is chair of the task force.
     An objective of the strategy is to commit the ELCA to be "a
praying church," Wollersheim told the board.  Second, the strategy will
help "prepare and renew evangelical leaders."  Through the plan, the
ELCA will identify ethnic-specific leaders and lay evangelists and will
teach discipleship, and will start and renew congregations," he said.
     Wollersheim said the strategy is "extremely faithful" and will
help "the church to participate in God's mission."  He listed 10 reasons
why the strategy will work, he said.	"The strategy begins with a
serious emphasis on prayer.  Second, the strategy addresses the entire
church, not just the churchwide organization, with emphasis on
congregations.	Congregations will now have a plan for evangelism with
biblical study, demographics and how-tos," Wollersheim said.
     "Third, the strategy involves the training of evangelists, and
[fourth] it asks global partners to help us and send us missionaries,"
he said.  As his fifth reason, Wollersheim said the strategy will help
the church start congregations across the country "with a timetable,
budget and process."
     The strategy also focuses on redeveloping existing congregations
with low worship attendance, he said, citing his sixth reason.	"It also
deepens our relationship with God, and the strategy has an
accountability component," Wollersheim said, citing his seventh and
eighth reasons.  A report will be given to the 2005 Churchwide Assembly
on how we're doing, he said.
     Citing his ninth and tenth reasons, Wollersheim said the United
States and Caribbean is "a mission field, a harvest God has given us."
And, he said, an ELCA strategy for evangelism will work because the
ELCA's [65] synods said evangelism is a top priority.
     A component of Sharing Faith in a New Century includes several
appendices for the strategy's implementation in the church.  In another
action, the board affirmed the appendices of the strategy and referred
them to the Office of the Presiding Bishop with the request that they be
integrated, as much as possible, "into the ELCA churchwide organization
spending plan proposal during 2004-2012."
     The staff and steering committee of the ELCA Commission for
Multicultural Ministries joined the DCM board and staff for
Wollersheim's report on Feb. 21.  The steering committee also met here
Feb. 21-22.
     The Rev. Frederick E.N. Rajan, executive director for the
commission, told the group he was grateful for the evangelism strategy.
     "When the first draft of the evangelism strategy came to us for
review, we were not pleased, and we were not silent," Rajan said.  He
said the strategy fell short on illustrating how the ELCA "can be a
strong church in a multicultural nation."
     Rajan said the commission developed a six-page response for the
task force that included some concerns, as well as support, on the
initial draft of the strategy.	"Every one of our concerns was
addressed.  We are very pleased in the way the evangelism task force has
responded to our community.   We are very excited about the strong
commitment expressed to listen to people of color," said Rajan.
     At its meeting, the steering committee moved to endorse Sharing
Faith in a New Century and, in the same action, expressed gratitude to
the DCM board, staff and evangelism task force "for listening positively
to the concerns" of the commission's staff and steering committee.
     In other business, the DCM board:
     + endorsed an "Outdoor Ministry Professional Standards Program"
designed to provide outdoor ministry boards and executive directors with
an "effective method for assessing the qualifications" of individuals
seeking professional positions in outdoor ministries.  Program goals
include establishing a "recommended set of core competencies" for
outdoor ministry professionals, encouraging a deep understanding in
Lutheran theology, and encouraging the development of skills and
competency in administration and program development.
     + affirmed the continued development of a "Next Step Strategies
for Synodical Youth and Family Ministry" document.  A "next step
recommendation" is focusing on the idea that youth and family ministry
happens at the grassroots level, said Mark J. Jackson, board member,
Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, Wash., who presented the document to
the board for action.  Other recommendations include training for synod
leadership, expanding existing partnerships and securing new funds,
Jackson said.
     + accepted the "To Serve as Jesus Served: Making Christ Known
Through Social Ministry" 2003-2004 strategic plan.  The plan contains a
theological foundation section, mission statement, program and
historical overview, assessment of current trends in social ministry,
and future directions.
     + instructed DCM's executive directors to ask staff of the ELCA
Office of the Secretary to accurately identify all ethnic-specific
congregations, synodically-authorized worshiping communities, candidates
for ministry, mission directors and pastors of the ELCA.  The board
noted that, at this time, there is no official place for congregations
to provide information about ethnic-specific ministries and leadership
in their reports to synods and churchwide office.

-- -- --
     Information about "Sharing Faith in a New Century: A Vision for
Evangelism in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" is maintained
at http://www.elca.org/visionevangelism/ on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html