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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 27, 1999

LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS LINK TO ELCA HOME PAGE
99-190-LS*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- More than 1,540 congregations of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have web sites linked to the ELCA home
page, said Sonia Gestes, Internet technician, ELCA Department for
Information Technology. The ELCA web site on the Internet was launched
in May 1995, and almost immediately congregations linked to the home
page.
     The ELCA web site has a simple form that congregations can use to
link their web sites with the ELCA's site, said LaRue Unglaube,
director, ELCA Department for Information Technology. Congregations can
find this form at www.elca.org/state/cong.html. A congregation may link
to the ELCA web site at no cost, she said. Congregations can store their
web site on the ELCA server or with local hosts.
     The ELCA also provides information for congregations starting web
sites, found at www.elca.org/congwebs.html. This site gives general tips
on how make an attractive web site, provides ideas for local hosts and
lists construction site addresses to help beginners with web-page
creation.
     "We provide the basics for congregations. It's a good starting
point," Unglaube said.
     Congregations noted for their web sites are recognized in "Home
Page of the Month," a regular feature of The Lutheran, magazine of the
ELCA.
     "We try to choose ones that have the best content," said Lorel K.
Fox, graphic designer and web editor for The Lutheran. Fox selects the
home page of the month in collaboration with members of the magazine's
staff.
     Congregational web sites come in all sizes and styles, Fox said.
Some are created by Internet professionals and others are done by
congregation members, she said. Web sites range in complexity from a
simple advertisement for the church to a place where members can go for
weekly schedules and program updates, Fox said.
     Congregations often include a mission statement, photographs of
the building and members, staff directories, prayer lists, devotions,
program schedules and pages for youth on their web sites, Fox said.
     "Congregations are using web sites for a variety of innovative
ministries," said Rob Blezard, congregations section editor for The
Lutheran. Web sites for congregations have moved from an archive to a
ministry tool, Blezard said. Links to congregational web sites can be
found at www.elca.org/homepage.html.
     Blezard highlighted several congregations that have innovative web
sites. Immanuel Lutheran Church, Fresno, Calif., has an online handbook
to plan a wedding or a funeral, he said. Visitors to the home page of
All Saints Lutheran Church, Lilburn, Ga., can watch video of the Rev.
Robert H. Stelter Jr. and hear audio of ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George
Anderson through a link to the ELCA site.
     Congregational web pages offer opportunities to communicate with
the pastor or other church members. The Rev. Ronald E. Reaves, Good
Shepherd Lutheran Church, Frederick, Md., said he does five to six
pastoral sessions by e-mail each day.
     "It's a new dimension of pastoral ministry that I find
intriguing," Reaves said. Parishioners who are homebound or
uncomfortable discussing issues face-to-face benefit from the online
discussions, Reaves said.
     Congregations use web pages to answer questions. The headline for
the home page of Christ Lutheran Church, Ridgefield Park, N.J., says
"For Spiritual Seekers ... A Place to Ask Anything." The Rev. Charles M.
Austin invites visitors to ask questions and enter into dialogue about
issues related to faith and life.

[*Lisa Smith is a senior at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.  This summer, 
she is an intern with ELC A News and Information.]

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