Title: Learning is "Life-Long" for Lutherans
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 21, 1997

LEARNING IS "LIFE-LONG" FOR LUTHERANS
97-11-028-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Continuing education means ongoing
spiritual formation, theological growth and leadership
development, according to a report outlining specific
expectations of "life-long learning" for pastors, associates in
ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA Division for Ministry board
approved those expectations when it met here March 13-15.
     The report and recommendations on "a systematic approach to
life-long learning and development" will be presented to the ELCA
Church Council when it meets here April 3-7 for action at the
ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Philadelphia, August 14-20. The
specific expectations include "50 contact hours per year of
intentional continuing education."
     After establishing similar expectations for church leaders
in the first three years of their careers, the 1995 assembly
asked for such expectations of all leaders regardless of how long
they've worked for the church, said Dr. Nelvin L. Vos, professor
of English at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., and board chair
of the ELCA Division for Ministry.
     The ministry board took action on several churchwide
programs of recruitment, education, approval, support, continuing
education and theological reflection. It moved forward on
several fronts to advance the ELCA's theological education
network and to support the healthy and faithful ministry of all
Lutherans.
     The division is sending reports to the Churchwide Assembly
on the coordination of distance learning; on progress in
"clustering;" on progress in fulfilling the 11 imperatives for
theological education; and on ministry in daily life and the
churchwide initiatives the assembly will consider.
     The use of modern technologies to offer theological
education programs away from the traditional settings of
seminaries and continuing education centers, the clustering of
seminaries and other "providers" of theological education in
specific territories into cooperative networks and the
establishment of imperatives or goals for the church in the area
of theological education are assembly directives from 1993 and
1995 stemming from a study of theological education.
     The 1997 assembly will receive a report from Presiding
Bishop H. George Anderson defining key initiatives he discerned
from conversations around the church during his first two years
in office. The division's board saw several opportunities in
those initiatives to make recommendations to the assembly about
ministry in daily life and the spiritual formation of Lutherans
who are not seeking a church occupation, said Vos.
     Most recommendations call for including "the concept of
ministry in daily life with relevant and concrete suggestions for
living the faith" in the ELCA's policies and printed resources or
for making "theological education accessible to a broader
spectrum of people."
     The board also gave preliminary approval to a draft of "a
case statement for increased financial support for theological
education." The final report, "Equipping Leaders for Mission,"
will be submitted to the 1997 Churchwide Assembly.
     Related to funding the Division for Ministry will ask the
ELCA Church Council to establish "The ELCA Fund for Leaders in
Mission." The board will also ask the council to reconsider the
division's staffing needs and to review and fund implementation
of recommendations from a Multicultural Leadership Consultation.
     The churchwide assembly is the ELCA's chief legislative
body. The ELCA Church Council acts on behalf of the assembly
between its biennial meetings.
     The board approved the division's 1998 budget of $5,584,395
-- an increase of $115,775 from 1997. The division added the
entire increase to its "seminary relationships" allocation -- $4
million to include $3,901,890 in direct grants to the ELCA's
eight seminaries.
     The division also increased the recommended minimum monthly
stipend for ELCA interns from $800 to $900 and the yearly tuition
fee from $750 to $900 effective for the 1998-99 academic year.
Interns are seminarians serving full-time in a congregational
ministry to fulfill a year of their educational requirements.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html