April 17, 2003

CHICAGO - Lutheran Laity Movement for Stewardship (LLM), a self-supporting membership organization within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will cease operations immediately and officially dissolve May 31. LLM, based at the ELCA churchwide offices here, has been an advocate and leader in stewardship ministry for nearly a century. It is currently best known for providing professionally led capital stewardship campaigns in congregations.

The LLM board of directors took the action March 31, when it met by conference call. Reasons for LLM's closure include declining membership in the organization, increasing operational costs and fewer congregational fund-raising campaigns since the terrorist attacks on the United States of Sept. 11, 2001, said Joyce B. Cain, LLM executive director.

The decision will result in the loss of two full-time staff here, plus 10 contract deployed staff, Cain said. Nine deployed staff are based in the United States and one is based in Canada, she said.

In 1997, as part of the preface for "Empowered Laity - The Story of the Lutheran Laity Movement," the Rev. H. George Anderson, former ELCA presiding bishop, wrote: "When the organization was founded in 1907, it was called the 'Laymen's Missionary Movement.' It invited individuals to contribute a minimum of $100 per year toward the eradication of deficits in the benevolence programs of the church. It never tried to become a men's brotherhood or social organization, but focused on improving the giving methods of congregations. The narrower focus became clear when its name was changed to 'Lutheran Laymen's Movement for Stewardship.'

"The LLM reached its greatest strength and influence during the 1950's, when it was given responsibility for supporting and managing the stewardship programs of the United Lutheran Church in America," Anderson said.

LLM became part of the ELCA through the former Lutheran Church in America, one of the ELCA predecessor church bodies. Presently, the organization has about 1,500 members who contribute financial gifts ranging from $100 to $5,000 annually.

In 1953, it developed a fund raising service. Through its history, LLM has led campaigns that have raised more than $550 million in about 4,500 congregational, synodical, churchwide and other organizations.

"Our members are going to be extremely disappointed," Cain said. "There is a spirit in LLM members. They love the church and love to talk about giving back what God has given them."

In an April 7 letter to members from Cain and Charles K. Lindquist, LLM president, Northville, Mich., they explained that the organization has struggled to balance year-end expenses with income in recent years. LLM has drawn from reserves in the past, but, they noted, "this is not a fiscally prudent approach."

The board decided to dissolve the organization following consultation with the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM) - the churchwide unit to which LLM relates, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, ELCA Office of the Treasurer and LLM staff.

"It was not an easy decision, but we sincerely believe it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the principles upon which LLM was founded," Cain and Lindquist said in their letter.

Despite the organization's financial problems, giving by LLM members to the organization showed a modest increase in 2002, said Dave Holz, LLM assistant director and director, LLM fund raising service. "People are still committed to the organization's ministry," he said.

LLM's members give more to the organization than financial gifts, he said. For example, many are stewardship advocates and teachers in congregations and synods, Holz said. LLM members often serve as resources to pastors in congregations, he said. Nearly all of the congregations the fund raising service has served are ELCA, but Holz said LLM assisted a few Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations and some from other Protestant denominations.

In addition to the congregational stewardship services it provides, LLM produces a stewardship journal, "Faith in Action;" a stewardship resource, "Rejoice;" and annually honors a parish pastor for outstanding stewardship efforts, Holz added.

The Rev. Mark R. Moller-Gunderson, DCM executive director and coordinator for mission support, said he is "personally saddened" that LLM must cease operations. In an April 7 letter to members, he praised the "dedicated and highly skilled" staff, and noted the organization raised "millions of dollars, and thousands of lives were touched by this unique ministry."

"My life as a steward leader was shaped early in my ministry by an LLM practicum," he wrote. "I thank God for the energy, passion and vision of the original LLM founders that was carried on through successive generations."

"We pray that each of us will find new ways within and through our congregations to continue to serve as responsible Christian stewards," said William Brenner, board vice president, Richboro, Pa., in a message to LLM members. "That will surely be LLM's finest legacy!"

ELCA News Service