wfn.org | ELCA seminaries receive Thrivent grant to develop social ministry leaders

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

>ELCA News Blog

>March 13, 2009  

ELCA seminaries receive Thrivent grant to develop social ministry leaders

>by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service

Three seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received a $215,000 grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation, Appleton, Wis., and Minneapolis. The three seminaries are working with schools of business and ELCA social ministry organizations to start the Intersections Institute, a leadership development program for faith-based social ministry organizations. The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (LTSG), Gettysburg, Pa., Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C., make up the eastern cluster of the eight ELCA seminaries.

"We are delighted to assist the Intersections Institute through this grant," said Karen Coonen, executive director, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. "We trust that this support will enable the organization to jump-start this venture education ministry with current and future social ministry organizational leadership."  The Rev. Michael L. Cooper-White, LTSG president, said the church and its social ministry organizations "need leaders who understand and demonstrate core competencies in both management and theology at the intersection of church and world."

The Rev. Richard P. Carlson, LTSG professor of biblical studies and director of graduate study, has led a foundation-laying phase funded by grants from the ELCA and the Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, Allentown, Pa. A search is under way for a permanent director.

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