wfn.org | ELCA Challenged to Start 2,000 New Congregations

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 18, 1998

ELCA CHALLENGED TO START 2,000 NEW CONGREGATIONS
98-CC2-15-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 11,000 congregations of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have been challenged to start 2,000 new
congregations between 2000 and 2020.  The Rev. Richard A. Magnus,
executive director of the ELCA's Division for Outreach, told the ELCA
Church Council that existing congregations can "take advantage of doing
mission that is close at hand."
     The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as
the legislative authority of the church between meetings of the ELCA's
Churchwide Assembly.  The council met here Nov. 13-16.  Assemblies are
held every other year; the next is August 16-22, 1999, in Denver.
     Magnus said congregations will be invited to work with the Division
for Outreach in every aspect of starting a new congregation -- recruit
potential pastors and other congregational leaders, commit finances and
other physical and spiritual resources, and place the project in God's
hands through regular prayer.  The sponsoring congregation can expect
these activities also to have a positive effect on its own health and
mission, he said.
     "Aside from that goal of 2,000 new congregations, we also have to
remind ourselves that existing congregations are mission outreach posts,"
the Rev. Julius Carroll IV, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Oakland, Calif.,
board chair of the ELCA Division for Outreach, said in an interview.  "The
fastest way to grow the church numerically is by starting new
congregations."
     Carroll suggested that many congregations could establish "satellite
ministries" for members who travel long distances to attend worship
services.  The congregations could serve those members by offering
programs in remote locations, and those programs could develop into new
congregations.
     "We understand that there are thousands of churches that probably
have the financial and spiritual resources to help this church grow by
establishing new congregations," said Carroll.  "We are challenging the
church to use those resources."

For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director (773) 380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html