ELCA NEWS SERVICE February 26, 2004 ELCA Board Receives Short-Term Plan, Congregational Typology 04-028-MR CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In the midst of transition, the board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM) laid out a short-term strategic plan when it met here Feb. 20-22. The board also learned about a typology of ELCA congregations and attended to other business. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, is expected to recommend a proposal for the reorganization of the churchwide office, budget and staff to the ELCA Church Council in November 2004. The council serves as the ELCA's board of directors and legislative authority of the church between biennial assemblies. "What can we do in this transitional year that will impact congregations, maximize use of resources and strengthen ministry areas for transition?" asked the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director, DCM. "Our goal is to support congregations in their call to be faithful, welcoming and generous," she said. The goal is one of the five strategic directions of the church. Staff of the division will use the strategic direction "as a launching pad," said Bullock. "The desired outcome is congregational renewal. Work in achieving that objective will begin with integrating the ELCA churchwide strategic directions and commitments," implementing the church's evangelism strategy and Renewing Worship initiative, and working with other churchwide units, she said. The presentation of the division's strategic plan offered the board an opportunity "to bring individual perspectives and dialogue around common themes, such as the importance of discipleship and renewing congregations. The division's plan is also an affirmation of the staff and trust in God's work," said the Rev. Jeffrey L. Schock, Trinity Lutheran Church, Latrobe Pa. Schock, vice chair of the DCM board, led the meeting. The board met in small groups to work on "phase one" of "Faithful Yet Changing: The Plan for Mission in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America." Faithful Yet Changing includes a process to restructure the ELCA churchwide organization based on the mission statement and strategic directions affirmed by the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. At its November 2003 meeting, the Church Council asked division boards and commission steering committees to participate in phase one of the process. The first phase of the plan began in January and will end in April. It involves examining the strategic directions and their implementation. Responses will serve as input to the redesign of the churchwide organization. Dr. Kenneth W. Inskeep, director, ELCA Department for Research and Evaluation, delivered an "executive summary" of demographic changes and membership trends in the ELCA. Inskeep said, in the course of the ELCA's strategic planning process in the past two years, "a host of contextual information" was collected about the church and its 10,716 congregations. Membership in congregations of the ELCA has not kept pace with the U.S. population, said Inskeep. "Congregations may grow in Minnesota, but they struggle in states that are more diverse in every way, like California and Florida. These states are among the fastest growing states in the United States," stated the summary put together by the ELCA Department for Research and Evaluation. Inskeep said the majority of ELCA congregations -- 5,738 -- have less than 350 baptized members. "These congregations account for about one-fifth of the total membership. Another fifth of the membership is in the largest 476 congregations, those with more than 1,500 members. The number of very small congregations -- 1 to 175 baptized members -- has increased by 2 percent since 1990. The number of very large congregations -- more than 1,500 members -- has increased by 6.7 percent," he said. "There are four ideal types -- not reality but general descriptions of congregations based on [ELCA] members' views," Inskeep said. There are two types of small congregations -- the "discontent" and the "content," he said. "The discontent congregation has gone from providing for a full-time pastor to not being able to support the pastor. The congregation is under financial pressure," Inskeep said. About 25 percent of ELCA congregations fall in the discontent category. Another 35 percent of small congregations are content congregations, Inskeep said. "They like themselves. Although things are going very well, these congregations are not growing nor declining," he said. Twenty percent of ELCA congregations fall into what Inskeep called "the committed congregation." These congregations are growing, he said. "Their key to success is a widely shared vision based on faith formation. They are engaged in Bible study and interested in reaching out to their community." The ELCA's large congregations, with 800 individuals worshipping on a given weekend, have multiple services and programs, Inskeep said. "Fifteen percent of these congregations have been large for a long time and rely on 'corporate members' for support. These members have a long-time relationship with the congregation and have a level of prestige," he said. Five percent of large congregations are "newer congregations. They are diverse and have an ability to generate programs and engage people in these programs. They are also more willing to accept failure [of a program] and move on," he said. Inskeep encouraged the board to "think seriously about doing mission and ministry where the environment has changed significantly, but where [the church] still has a presence." "How valuable is our voice? We haven't paid attention to that. I hope that, as we reorganize, we ask ourselves: How valuable do we believe our Lutheran voice is in the world we find ourselves in today?" Inskeep told the board. In other business, the board: + accepted a "Proposal for Stewardship Services" designed to address how stewardship ministry is positioned in the ELCA churchwide organization. Stewardship and mission funding functions are currently housed in DCM. Staff of the stewardship and mission funding team is looking at how its work connects with a proposal for a new Resource Development Unit in the churchwide organization. Staff is working to increase delivery of direct services to congregations of the church through two stewardship ministries -- Salt Ministry and the Stewardship Key Leader program. It is also working to add a fund-raising component for the 65 synods of the ELCA, increase services for "field staff" and provide "supervision, coordination and training of the shared and deployed stewardship staff." + received a progress report on the improving relationship and work between the division and Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA, Minneapolis. Improvements center on two mutual commitments -- open communication and joint planning of programs and resources to serve congregations and synods. + forwarded a resolution about the 30th anniversary of the World Hunger Appeal of the ELCA and its predecessor church bodies to the ELCA Church Council. Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the appeal. Gifts to the appeal enable the church "to accompany people in need in this country and throughout the world through relief efforts, sustainable development, education and advocacy." The resolution asks the council to "give thanks," reaffirm the ELCA's commitment to combat hunger and poverty, and call on individuals, congregations, synods and others to "deepen their commitment" to effective ways for fighting hunger and poverty "at home and throughout the world." + forwarded a resolution about "Stand With Africa: A Campaign of Hope" to the Church Council. Stand With Africa began as a three-year Lutheran campaign in 2000. It was designed to focus on issues significant to Africa, including HIV/AIDS, food security, and peace and reconciliation. The resolution would affirm the continuation of Stand With Africa as a "second mile" giving opportunity and "reaffirm" the ELCA's commitment to accompany companion churches and partner agencies in Africa. -- -- -- Information about the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries is maintained at http://www.elca.org/dcm/ on the Internet. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news