ELCA News Blog
May 18, 2007
ELCA Small Town, Rural Ministry Alliance to meet June 13-16
by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
The annual meeting of the Small Town and Rural (STaR) Ministry Alliance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is June 13-16 at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. STaR Ministry Alliance members share a commitment to proclaiming the gospel in small town and rural settings throughout the ELCA, said Sandra A. LaBlanc, director for rural ministry networking and resourcing, ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission (EOCM), Des Moines, Iowa.
The meeting includes two events. "Discovering Hope," June 13-14, is focused on evangelism in rural ministry, LaBlanc said. Tex Sample, coordinator, U.S. Network for the Study of U.S. Lifestyles, Goodyear, Ariz., is keynote speaker. Prayer, worship, discipleship, evangelism, caring ministries and leadership are topics of workshops.
The second event, "Celebrating Rural Life," June 14-16, is focused on "concrete models of hope," LaBlanc said. Keynote speakers are the Rev. Peter W. Marty, host of "Grace Matters," the radio ministry of the ELCA, and senior pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa; and the Rev. Ruben F. Duran, director, new congregational development, EOCM. Ten special- interest "affinity groups" will meet to plan activities, and at least 21 workshops are planned, LaBlanc said. For the first time, participants can earn continuing education credits at the gathering, she added. The meetings are sponsored by the ELCA Southeastern Minnesota and ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synods.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog