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Changing Role of the Missionary
     In the "early days of American mission work outside the
territory of the United States, [missionaries] were going to
areas where, for lack of better words, the gospel had not been
heard.	Those early pioneer missionaries did a wonderful job of
preaching, teaching and leading small groups of Christians in
various countries.  The gospel took root and a church developed.
They began training their own pastors, teachers and so forth.  As
the church matured, the kind of mission personnel needed also
changed," Nelson said.
     "Although we still need pastors to serve in Africa, for
example, the number is not as high as before, because Africans
now serve as pastors in their own congregations," he said.  "Our
role now is more in leadership development, teaching at
seminaries, finance management, and responding to other needs as
expressed by" the ELCA's companion churches around the world,
Nelson said.
     Another aspect about the changing role of the missionary is
"that we talk about mutuality in mission, and the terminology we
use is 'accompaniment.'  We accompany our partners or companions
around the world.  We don't sit in Chicago deciding what the
church in Zimbabwe needs or the church in Indonesia needs.  We
listen to what their needs are, and we also learn from them
because, in other parts of the world, the church is growing.  In
the United States we have a slight decline in our membership, so
we have much to learn.	We're very serious about mutuality in
mission," Nelson said.
     Current openings for long-term and short-term international
mission appointments and self-support volunteer positions are
posted at www.elca.org/globalserve on the ELCA's Web site.
     The ELCA Division for Global Mission manages the process of
promoting opportunities for service, recruiting, screening and
appointing of candidates. Lutherans serving in international
settings with the ELCA are considered missionaries regardless of
the length or type of service.

ELCA Missionary Sponsorship
     Individual members and congregations of the ELCA sponsor
mission personnel by providing "new money," versus using the
church's currently-committed funds for general mission support.
A congregation or individual sponsorship can be arranged for any
amount through a variety of options.  One option is the
"Missionary Covenant Program," in which an individual and/or
congregation provides annual contributions of $1,000 or more.  A
missionary will be matched to a congregation, one of the 65
synods of the ELCA or an individual, and the ELCA Division for
Global Mission will provide information to the missionary about
the sponsor and to the sponsor about the missionary.  Sponsors
are expected to correspond with the missionary and to pray for
them in worship and informal settings.	Missionaries are also
expected to maintain regular contact with sponsors.
     Another option is the "Missionary-for-a-Day" program.  Under
this program, any amount can be contributed and the sponsor is
not specifically matched with a missionary; gifts are applied to
the support of the missionaries that the Division for Global
Mission chooses to be the recipients.
-- -- --
     Information about global mission service of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America is available at
http://www.elca.org/globalserve/ on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news