wfn.org | ELCA Funds 10 Proposals for Domestic 'MAPP' Projects

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 5, 2000

ELCA FUNDS 10 PROPOSALS FOR DOMESTIC 'MAPP' PROJECTS
00-230-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Office of the Bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved grants totaling $900,000 for
10 domestic ministries.  The projects, intended to provide direct
assistance to people living in poverty, are part of the ELCA's emphasis
on Ministries Among People in Poverty (MAPP).
     The domestic projects stress strengthening families, fostering
intercultural learning, equipping people in poverty to understand and
deal with economic and political systems, outreach to youth and
educating ELCA members on issues related to poverty and wealth, said the
Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive director, ELCA Division for Church in
Society.
     "In most instances, we are recommending projects extend over
several years," Miller said. "An advantage of this approach is that
progress can be ascertained before more funding is provided."
     The MAPP funds were provided by the ELCA Church Council in 1999,
when it designated $3 million in reserve funds for such projects.  The
Rev. H. George Anderson, ELCA presiding bishop, set up four work groups
to administer the funds.  The groups are aimed at funding international
and domestic projects, canceling debts of some congregations and
fostering relationships between ELCA members and people living in
poverty.
     The Office of the Bishop previously approved $619,000 for
international MAPP projects.
     The domestic projects and their funding levels are:
     + Rural Development Project ($100,000). These funds will be used
for a variety of rural projects.  Primary leadership for these projects
will be provided by the ELCA Division for Outreach.  Funds will be used
for a program in Minnesota that helps impoverished family farmers move
into a different way of life; a program in York, Pa., which is
responding to a changed economy following a significant farm
manufacturer's departure from the city; a sustainable food project in
south-central Pennsylvania that highlights locally grown, healthful food
produced by family farmers; an intergenerational ministry in Soap Lake,
Wash., with diverse ethnic groups living in poverty; and support for a
locally owned credit union in central Appalachia that serves low income
families.
     + Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Fund
($100,000).  Funds will be used to support technical consultants to
assist in redeveloping existing community-based projects that address
poverty.  Funds will be used also to develop new organizations.
Consultants will work with at least 20 projects in different locations
in the next two years.
     + Faith-Based Community Organizing ($150,000).  Funds will be used
to promote greater congregational involvement in local communities.  The
proposal calls for a two-year contract staff position devoted to faith-based 
community organizing; working to teach seminarians and pastors
about public ministry in their communities; and training people to
deepen congregational involvement in their local communities.
     + Congregation-Based Immigration Centers ($175,000).  Funds will
be used to assist as many as eight ELCA congregations in their
ministries to serve new immigrants to the United States.
     + Grass Roots Advocacy Training ($45,000).  Four training
workshops will be funded to teach people how to be effective with public
policy issues directly affecting people living in poverty.  At least 100
advocates will be taught how to address issues of hunger and poverty in
a variety of settings.
     + Women and Children Living in Poverty ($60,000).  As many as
eight pilot projects will be initiated.  These will be aimed at
strengthening families living in poverty and expanding the horizons of
synods, congregations and social ministry organizations in their
ministry with people living in poverty.
     + The Simba Circle ($75,000).  Funds will be used to support
operating expenses for The Simba Circle, a Christ-centered leadership
educational program aimed at African-American young men.  Many of the
young men live in at-risk situations and in poverty.  The program is
administered by the ELCA and is conducted in a two-week camp setting.
     + American Indian Community Center ($120,000).  Funds will be
provided in stages to enable Dacotah Oyate Lutheran Church, Tokio, N.D.,
to create and maintain a community development center.  The center is
intended to serve Spirit Lake Reservation in central North Dakota, an
area in which people struggle to find employment and were deeply
affected by the 1996 floods.
     + Domestic Poverty Capacity Building ($25,000).  Funds will be
used to study the ELCA process by which domestic hunger grants are used
to fund various projects.  The study is aimed at helping the church
identify critical areas of need that may be left unfunded.
     + Leadership Development Among Women and Children Living in
Poverty ($50,000). Funds will be used to enable adults and youth living
in poverty to participate in developing policies that affect their
lives.  Regional workshops will be organized for which people living in
poverty will receive financial support to attend.

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