ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 8, 2006  

ELCA Strengthens Variety of Leadership Commitments
06-018-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a collaborative ministry project
involving many partners the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) has provided funding for several  initiatives
focused on strengthening the church's commitment to
multicultural, public life, evangelism and young adult leadership
development.
     In April 2005 the ELCA Church Council designated a total of
$4.5 million in unspent budget funds from fiscal year 2004 and
previously designated funds, specifically to support mission tied
to the ELCA's five strategic priorities.  The priorities are
supporting congregations; growing in evangelical outreach;
stepping forward as a public church; deepening global, ecumenical
and interfaith relationships; and developing and supporting
leaders.
     The ELCA Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and
serves as the legislative authority of the church between
churchwide assemblies.  The next assembly is here in 2007.
     Of the $4.5 million, $2,050,000 was earmarked for leadership
development. The remainder of the funds were divided among
ministries that address congregation development and renewal,
introduction of a new ELCA worship book, ministry among people
living in poverty, and supporting an ELCA Middle East strategy
implemented by the 2005 Churchwide Assembly in Orlando, Fla.
     The Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive for leadership
development, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, was named to
coordinate the specially funded leadership initiatives. She will
coordinate leadership development components of ethnic ministry
strategies and evangelism strategies, work with others to
distribute leadership development funds, identify and make known
best practices, and provide for discussion and publications
related to a "theology of leadership."
     Through synods, seminaries, established multicultural
communities in the ELCA, staff of the churchwide organization and
a variety of other partners, the collaborators funded some 19
ministry projects.  Most of the funds were designated for
multicultural leadership development.
     Multicultural communities recognized by the ELCA include
African and African American; American Indian and Alaska Native;
Arab and Middle Eastern; Asian and Pacific Islander; and Latino.
     Among the initiatives funded were programs aimed at
recruitment, development of clergy and lay leaders, internships,
evangelism, leadership in public life, development and
enhancement of a young adult program in global mission, and
development of the next generation of seminary professors of
color.
     Most of the leadership ministry projects fall into one of
three categories, Bullock said.  They are "recruitment,
formation/preparation and placement," she said.  In addition to
strengthening lay leadership initiatives, also key are increasing
number of clergy who are people of color and the number of people
of color serving as teaching theologians in seminaries, she said.
     At its eight seminaries, the ELCA has a total of 22 teaching
theologians who are people of color; three have only one person
of color as a teaching theologian, Bullock said.  Another 488
people of color serve as active clergy and professional lay
leaders among the ELCA's nearly 19,000 clergy and professional
lay leaders, she said.
     Why should the ELCA be so committed to raising up a new
generation of leaders, especially leaders or color? The
demographics of the United States show there is a "changed
landscape," Bullock said, adding that the "mission to which God
calls us is an increasingly multicultural opportunity."
     At nearly every ELCA churchwide assembly -- the church's
chief legislative authority which meets every two years -- voting
members have recommitted the church to its stated intention to be
a more multicultural church, she said.  Actions have included
renewing a constitutional goal that 10 percent of the ELCA's
members and elected leaders of synod assemblies, councils,
committees, boards and other organizational units be people of
color; adopting ethnic ministry strategies; adopting the social
statement, "Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity and Culture"; and
committing resources for increased mission with people of color,
she said.
     "Something keeps pulling us to do this ministry together,"
Bullock said.  "It won't let us go. It keeps us pressing, keeps
us recommitting and keeps us at the table. I believe it is God's
spirit at work among us."
     The 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Orlando adopted two
ethnic ministry strategies aimed at reaching out to people of
African Descent, and Arab and Middle Eastern heritage.  The
actions call the church to "put muscle" behind what the ELCA has
in place, Bullock said.
     "None of us are all of what I believe we are called to be
when we isolate ourselves from other people in God's creation,"
she said.  "As a church we really need to be transformed."
---
     Information about ELCA Multicultural Ministries is at
http://www.ELCA.org/multicultural.html on the ELCA Web Site.
     Information about leadership development is at
http://www.ELCA.org/vocationeducation on the ELCA Web site.
     Information about evangelism, including the ELCA's
Evangelism Strategy, is at http://www.ELCA.org/evangelism/ on the
ELCA Web site.
     Information about Young Adults in Global Mission is at
http://www.ELCA.org/globalserve/youngadults on the ELCA Web site.

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
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