wfn.org | ELCA Board Accepts New Plan for Evangelism, Christian Education

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 9, 1999

ELCA BOARD ACCEPTS NEW PLAN FOR EVANGELISM, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
99-277-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Reaching unchurched people and deepening the
faith lives of Christians is part of the mission for the Christian
education and evangelism ministry team of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA). The board of the ELCA Division for
Congregational Ministries (DCM) heard more about the team's mission and
multi-year plan, "Developing a Vision for the Turn of the Millennium,"
at its meeting here Oct. 15-17.
     The plan describes the work of the Christian education and
evangelism ministry staff in DCM.  The board affirmed and commended the
plan for implementation in 1999-2001, and encouraged flexibility to
"meet emerging needs."
     "The spirit is moving in the church, lifting up important
practices of evangelism," said the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive
director, Division for Congregational Ministries.  "We're working in the
church to help bring this plan alive."
     A goal of the plan is to develop resources for the ELCA's 65
synods and 11,000 congregations in the areas of Christian education and
evangelism.  The plan also seeks to "equip and strengthen" education and
evangelism in congregations through leadership training and network
support.
     "The plan highlights faith practices from a Lutheran perspective
to help members of the church live out their faith," said the Rev. David
Poling-Goldenne, ELCA director for discipleship ministries, DCM.
     The work of the team is based on the idea that within each
congregation are two distinct but intersecting spheres of activity:
evangelism and education.
     The evangelism or "outreach" sphere includes all the ministries of
the congregation related to hospitality and invitational evangelism,
discipleship ministries -- inviting "believers, seekers, inquirers and
skeptics into a deeper relationship with Christ" -- intentional
neighborhood outreach and communication evangelism, said the Rev. Marta
Poling-Goldenne, ELCA director for witness, evangelism and Christian
education, DCM.
     The second sphere, Christian education or discipleship ministry,
features the way in which congregations intentionally invite people to
establish and affirm baptismal identity -- teaching the content of
language of faith through Sunday school, Bible study and other learning
opportunities, said David Poling-Goldenne.  Other features include
nurturing faith in community and "discipling ministries" -- living out
faith within the context of home, business, neighborhood, recreational
and volunteer activities, he said.
     Leadership training events for 1999 include the ELCA Domestic
Mission Conference, "At the Name of Jesus: Congregations for the 21st
Century," Nov. 19-21.  The conference will focus on innovative ways for
evangelism, outreach, Christian education and discipleship among ELCA
congregations.  The ELCA Divisions for Congregational Ministries, and
Outreach are sponsors of the 1999 conference.
     "Bridging the Gap: Reaching Post-Modern Generations," at the
Milwaukee Hilton, and "Sembrando la Semilla del Evangelio en Nuestra
Juventud y Ninez," at Hotel Hyatt Regency, Milwaukee, will follow "At
the Name of Jesus," Nov. 21-23.
     The "1999-2000 Evangelism Packet: Sharing Faith 2" was mailed to
ELCA congregations earlier this year.  The packet includes "Real Hope
for Real Life," a campaign to invite unchurched "friends and neighbors"
to an ELCA congregation during the Lent and Easter church seasons, and
an ecumenical evangelism tool kit, a catalogue of evangelism resources
from the ELCA and six other Protestant denominations.
     Along with the evangelism packet, the "1999-2000 Christian
Education Packet" was mailed to congregations.  The Christian Education
Packet features, "A Child Shall Lead Them," a guide for congregations
planning a "Rally Day," and "101 Faith Place: Entry Points for Nurturing
Faith in the Home," a quick reference guide for parents looking for ways
to nurture faith in their home and family life.
     In 2000 and 2001, the team will invite members of the ELCA to
embark on a period of "discipleship and faith development."  The
invitation -- "Call to Discipleship" -- is part of a major emphasis to
"Teach the Faith," one of seven ELCA "Initiatives to Prepare for a New
Century."  The Initiatives represent significant areas of ministry for
the church in next century.
     In a separate action, the DCM board asked staff of the division to
work with other ELCA units and divisions to prepare "a comprehensive
report on activities of the past decade in response to the 'Evangelism
Strategy: A Telling Witness of God's Good News,'" which was established
by the ELCA's 1991 Churchwide Assembly.  The board asked to see an
interim report next spring and a final report next fall.

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