ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 2, 2006  

ELCA Rural Ministry Gathering Emphasizes Networking
06-117-JB

     SELINSGROVE, Pa. (ELCA) -- About 100 people met here at the
annual gathering of the Small Town and Rural (STaR) Ministry
Alliance, emphasizing networking to address rural concerns
through special interest groups known as "affinity groups."  The
alliance represents more than 5,800 of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America's (ELCA) 10,461 congregations.
     The meeting was held July 20-22 here at Susquehanna
University, one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.
Participants engaged in worship, workshops and affinity group
meetings, and heard speakers focus on the theme "Celebrating
Rural Life."
     "The mission of this gathering is to celebrate rural life
and the gifts that it brings," said Sandra L. LaBlanc, ELCA
director for rural ministry and networking, Des Moines, Iowa,
adding that the gathering purposely emphasizes the positives of
rural life while acknowledging that small towns, farms and rural
congregations have serious economic and social problems to
confront.
     "We have deliberately shifted our focus to concrete models
of hope," LaBlanc said.  "We provide this forum to -- through
workshops, through keynote presentations and through the
materials that are provided -- provide these concrete models of
hope."
     Affinity groups -- groups that focus on specific topics of
concern in rural congregations and communities -- were the key
component of this year's meeting.  The groups meet at the annual
gathering, and they also work throughout the year, LaBlanc said.
     There are more active affinity groups this year than last,
LaBlanc said.  Among the groups are those that focus on worship,
cooperative ministry models, health care, stewardship,
evangelism, leadership and youth.

Bishop focuses on 'the good shepherd"
     The Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South
Dakota Synod, Sioux Falls, focused her keynote presentation on
the story of the Good Shepherd, found in the Gospel of John 10:1-
11.  In that story, Jesus declares that he is the Good Shepherd
and is willing to lay down his life for the sheep.  DeGroot-
Nesdahl said she chose the story because it conveys a rural
image, and it cultivates hope.
     The image of the Good Shepherd is dear to Christians, she
said, adding: "We want a Good Shepherd to lead us."  The story
and Jesus' proclamation tell Christians that "whatever our needs
are, known or unknown, Jesus is there."
     Sheep will follow the shepherd's voice into the world,
"outside of the wall of safety and security," DeGroot-Nesdahl
said.  In the same way, people move outside of their comfort
zones hoping that God will lead them to something new, she said.
     "What God shows us outside the gate is abundant life,"
DeGroot-Nesdahl said.
     In her call as bishop of South Dakota, DeGroot-Nesdahl
serves many congregations in rural settings.  "My experience with
rural people is strength, not only based in physical strength,
but strength based in faith," she said in an interview.
     Through her presentation, DeGroot-Nesdahl said she hoped
conference participants remember that hope starts in Scripture,
with faith and with Jesus, and that "following the Good Shepherd
to places beyond our reach and imagination makes all things
possible."

Lutheran World Relief serves rural communities overseas
     The president of Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Kathryn
Wolford, told the gathering the organization works primarily in
overseas relief and development in rural areas.  LWR, based in
Baltimore, is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS),
individuals and parish groups in international relief,
development, advocacy and social responsibility.  Much of its
funding is provided through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal,
Chicago.
     Working in rural areas "is a product of both our expertise
and experience," she said in an interview.  "Rural communities,
in just about every case, have less access to basic services like
health care, education, clean water, and even opportunities to
earn a decent income.  So we've decided that's where we feel
we've been called to be and that's where we can make the greatest
impact."
     The organization has a number of ongoing projects throughout
the world.  Among them are coffee projects, women's programs,
peacemaking and advocacy efforts in Colombia, emergency relief in
the Darfur region of Sudan and in drought-ravaged countries in
east Africa, and continuing relief efforts in tsunami-affected
countries in south Asia.  LWR, Wolford said, "stays beyond the
emergency and looks for ways to address root causes."
     LWR is helping people overseas through the Foods Resource
Bank, based in Kalamazoo, Mich., Wolford said. Through the bank
church groups, working with farmers, donate or rent farm land for
one year and produce a crop.  After the crop is harvested the
proceeds are deposited into the account of a Foods Resource Bank
partner agency, such as LWR, she said.
     "We use those funds to work overseas in a project that
increases food production and food security," she said. "The U.S.
government actually matches a good portion of those funds.  So
it's great leveraging.  People love to see their money double as
it comes through the Foods Resource Bank."
     Wolford said that last year the program generated about
$500,000 for Lutheran World Relief food programs overseas.

Other speakers, workshops
     Participants attended a series of workshops at the gathering
that focused on best practices in rural and small-town
congregations, stewardship, the role of the ELCA in health care,
preparing lay members for leadership, the Appalachian culture,
transformational ministry, a hearing on the first draft of the
ELCA social statement "Our Calling in Education," forming a
geographic parish and managing stress in ministry.  Next year the
U.S. Congress will consider reauthorizing Farm Bill legislation,
and one workshop focused on the Farm Bill.
     Sister Christine Pratt, OSU, rural life director, Roman
Catholic Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, addressed the gathering during
the opening session July 20.
     Gathering participants brought quilt squares on which they
portrayed their ministries, communities or geographic area.
     The next gathering will take place in July 2007 at Gustavus
Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., LaBlanc said.
---
     Links to audio news reports from the gathering are
http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/060727.mp3
http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/060728.mp3
http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/060731.mp3

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