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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 6, 1999

ELCA RURAL AND SMALL TOWN CONGREGATIONS SHOW VITALITY
99-242-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) --  Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) in small town and rural areas are learning from
each other what makes ministry vital and effective.  More than 120 lay
leaders and clergy met here Sept. 24-26 for a consultation on
"Evangelism Strategies and Leadership Practices that Work in Rural
Congregations," sponsored by the ELCA Division for Congregational
Ministries.
     The consultation is a component of an ELCA research project
"designed to unpack effective practices of evangelism, Christian
education or discipleship formation, and lay leadership development in
rural and small town congregations," said the Rev. David Poling-Goldenne, 
ELCA director for discipleship ministries.
     Of the ELCA's 6,000 rural and small town congregations around the
country, 26 were selected for their vitality, excellence in ministry and
vision, said Poling-Goldenne.
     Information gathered from these congregations will be used to
develop print and video resources for the ELCA.  The ELCA is made up of
5.2 million members worshiping in 11,000 congregations in the United
States and Caribbean.
     The 26 congregations were noted for their ability to "reach out"
to their communities and strengthen the faith life and leadership
practices of their own members, said Poling-Goldenne.  "We wanted to
learn from those that were doing it best.  The gift of these
congregations is that they provide a window into effective ministry
practices in rural and small town settings all across America."
     Participants in the consultation were lay leaders and clergy from
congregations in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Massachusetts, Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota,
Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and
Wyoming.
     The consultation featured three sessions on evangelism, Christian
education (discipleship formation) and leadership development.  After
each session, participants met in small groups to discuss "best
practices" in those areas.
     "Discipleship takes place by storytelling," said the Rev. Stephen
C. Biegner, St. Andrews Lutheran Church, South Glen Falls, N.Y.
"Storytelling can take place not only in Sunday school, but in the car
and at the coffee shop," he said.
     "The most powerful part of discipleship is having the opportunity
to share stories in detail on a personal level, such as sharing faith
stories in a small group setting," said the Rev. John P. Seltzer, Zion
Lutheran Church, Cobleskill, N.Y.
     "We are storytelling creatures, and our story from God is the life
of Jesus Christ," said Tex Sample, professor of church and society at
Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Mo.  Sample was a keynote
speaker.
     "Storytelling is a practice.  It is profoundly biblical.  God
calls us into practices of faithfulness," said Sample.  "Listening to
stories is also a central practice.  You cannot tell stories if you
can't hear them."
     Sample told participants to "think of hope as practice."  He said,
"Sometimes we confuse hope with optimism and positive thinking.  Hope is
the foundation of courage.  The practice of hope is to put yourself
where you would not be, if you did not believe the story of God in Jesus
Christ."
     At the end of the consultation, participants received a summary of
some of the "best practices" in small town and rural ministry.  Some of
the best evangelism practices include church ministry via the Internet;
hospitality and "welcoming" ministry for new members; and outreach
ministries to non-churched people in small town and rural areas. Some of
the best Christian education practices include Bible study and faith
nurturing among adults.  Best leadership practices identified include
developing a "shared vision" between lay people and clergy.
        The research project is being driven by the ELCA Division for
Congregational Ministries, Division for Outreach, Wartburg Seminary's
Center for Theology and Land, Dubuque, Iowa, and Augsburg Fortress, the
publishing house of the ELCA based in Minneapolis, said Poling-Goldenne.
The project is funded in part by Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal
benefits society based in Minneapolis.

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