wfn.org | Sandra LaBlanc to Staff ELCA's Rural Desk

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 1, 1999

SANDRA LaBLANC TO STAFF ELCA'S RURAL DESK
99-12-071-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Sandra A. LaBlanc, 49, an associate in ministry
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), becomes the
church's director for rural ministry resources and networking on May 1.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 1997 asked that a "rural desk" be
created to coordinate the church's ministries in small town and rural
settings.
     For 16 years LaBlanc has been communications director of the
National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) based in Des Moines,
Iowa.  In addition to giving speeches and workshops on food, faith and
rural life issues, she edits Catholic Rural Life magazine, Rural
Landscapes newsletter and several other NCRLC publications.
     LaBlanc graduated high school from Prairie Community School
District, Gowrie, Iowa.  She earned a bachelor's degree from Iowa State
University, Ames, Iowa, and a master's degree in journalism and mass
communications from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.  She is
currently enrolled in a specialist degree program at Drake University in
adult leadership development.
     "My first hope is that we can provide a ministry of presence,"
said LaBlanc.  She said she hopes to "embody rural people, rural
churches and rural communities" within both the church and other
organizations working with rural issues, while working in rural and
small town settings.  "I intend to do a lot of traveling and be out and
about with the folk," she said.
     LaBlanc said she will be aided by her knowledge of available
resources -- "to be able to know where we can go to get answers for
needs that rural people have, to be able to put people in touch with
other people, to put people in touch with printed material and Web
resources, and to find answers to some of the really complex issues
facing rural people right now."
     "We are excited about having Sandy on our staff," said the Rev.
Richard A. Magnus, executive director of the ELCA Division for Outreach.
"She will bring tremendous assets to the position."
     Since it was formed in 1988 the ELCA has been involved in rural
ministry concerns.  In 1995, the Division for Outreach stepped up its
efforts and formed the Small Town and Rural (STaR), Team, a small group
of people currently involved in small town and rural ministries who meet
periodically during the year and maintain daily communication through e-mail.
     "The rural desk is meant to be a position that helps facilitate
more effective ministry for the ELCA in small towns and rural areas,"
said Helen Harms, Altoona, Pa., leader of the STaR team and the
division's mission director in West Virginia, western Maryland and
western Pennsylvania.
     "Sandy has a good knowledge of all the diverse rural contexts
across the United States," said Harms.  "She has had experience with
fishing, farming and logging communities."
     Harms said LaBlanc will not be asked to relocate to the division's
central offices in Chicago.  "Often when people leave their context, it
becomes difficult to remain connected to the people and issues that are
a part of their life," she said.  "We think it is important that someone
who is a voice for small town and rural people is someone who has roots
in a small town or rural community."
     The rural desk will be "a lens through which the resources of the
church get focused and pointed at where they are needed" as well as a
place where the priorities of the church regarding small town and rural
ministry can be set, said the Rev. Warren A. Sorteberg, ELCA executive
for congregational outreach services, Division for Outreach.
     LaBlanc will work across the various divisions and synods of the
ELCA, said Sorteberg, to help organize the development of ELCA worship
and Sunday school materials for rural and small town ministries and to
assist the church's advocacy efforts on rural issues.
     The ELCA Division for Outreach provides leadership to the church
as it reaches out with the gospel and invites all people to have a faith
relationship with God.  Working with congregations, synods and regions
of the ELCA, the division develops new congregations and supports
existing congregations with special outreach opportunities as well as
urban and rural coalitions.

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