March 24, 2005

CHICAGO – The boards of the Division for Higher Education and Schools (DHES) and Division for Outreach (DO) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) reviewed two proposed ethnic ministry strategies during their spring meetings this month. Both commended to the ELCA Church Council the strategies, which could help the church reach out to people of African descent and people of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage.

The council is expected to review the proposed strategies and consider transmitting them to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly for approval. The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council meets here April 7- 11. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14 in Orlando, Fla.

The Rev. Bassam J. Abdallah, consultant for Arab and Middle Eastern Ministries, ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries (CMM), presented the proposed Arab and Middle Eastern strategy, "Bridges Across History, Lands and Cultures," to both boards.

The Arab and Middle Eastern community "is the youngest and smallest" of the recognized ethnic communities in the ELCA, he told the DHES board, which met here March 18-19. The number of ELCA members who make up the community is not known, but Abdallah estimated it could be as many as 15,000 people.

"We certainly have the longest history of Christianity and the most exciting of political aspirations" in the Middle East, he said.

In the next 10 years, the Arab and Middle Eastern community hopes to start five new ELCA ministries, but the community needs more ordained leaders, Abdallah said.

The ELCA has been "absolutely wonderful in receiving us and partnering with us," he said.

"We work with the poorest of the poor," Abdallah said. "We support families emigrating here and families in the Middle East."

The board also heard commentary on a proposed African descent ministry strategy, "Many Voices, Tell the Story, Create the Vision: Build Our Future." The Rev. Julius Carroll IV, director for African American Ministries, CMM, and the Rev. Richard J. Perry Jr., professor of church and society, and urban ministry, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, spoke to the DHES board.

Carroll pointed out that there are 53,158 members of African descent in the ELCA, slightly more than 1 percent of the ELCA's total baptized membership of 5 million. He said there are 240 African descent congregations in the ELCA. Only eight of the 240 average more than 200 people in worship each weekend. Overall the ELCA has 10,657 congregations.

The key need of the African descent community is ordained leadership, Carroll said.

"The [proposed strategy] document is an invitation to the ELCA to make those 240 congregations healthier, stronger Christ- centered communities," he said.

Perry said the proposal is "a living document that's meant to stir our imaginations."

DO Board Calls for Strategy for Sparsely Populated Communities

Following discussion on the ethnic ministry strategies, the DO board adopted a resolution encouraging continued monitoring of the needs of sparsely populated areas and areas of declining population in the church; monitoring of the evolution of new "affinity" networks formed last year to carry on the church's rural ministry by devoting attention to a series of specific interests; and gathering information and assisting in evaluating "multiple location" ministries and "circuit rider" pastors. The board, which met March 11-12, asked that results be shared with synods and the church's outreach staff.

Board member Steven E. Koenig, Tyndall, S.D., said the ELCA needs a strategy for members in sparsely populated areas, specifically to help them communicate with people who do not regularly attend a church and with ethnic communities in their contexts. The church needs a strategy to "empower the laity," he said.

The Rev. Richard J. Magnus, DO executive director, said last year the division was involved in the official formation of the Small Town and Rural (STaR) Ministry Alliance and it is seeking grant funds that may address some of the concerns raised by the board.

"My hope would be that, if a strategy were to come from that [population], it would come from those who live in the grass roots," he said. The STaR Ministry Alliance holds its annual meeting July 28-30 at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan., one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.

The meeting may have been the final meeting of the DO board. This August the 2005 Churchwide Assembly will consider a plan to reorganize the work of the churchwide organization. If adopted, much of the division's work will be included in a proposed Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission program unit, with guidance provided by a program advisory committee instead of a board.

DHES Board Asks for Adequate Strategy Funding,
Discusses Education Study Document

Following discussion of the two ministry ethnic strategies, the DHES board asked the Church Council to emphasize the need to appropriate sufficient funds to ensure success of all ethnic strategies adopted by the ELCA.

It also held a lengthy discussion about a recently introduced study document – "Our Calling in Education: A Lutheran Study" – to be used in developing a social statement on education. Social statements are social policy documents. The 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is expected to consider a proposed social statement on education.

Speaking as a board representative to the task force preparing the statement, Kathryn L. Johnson, Louisville, Ky., said "theological depth is apparent in all sections" of the study document.

The Rev. John L. Stumme, director for studies, ELCA Division for Church in Society, said the study document is about education in the church and education in society. "We need to be concerned about both," Stumme said.

Feedback on the study document is important as the task force working on the education statement prepares to move to a new phase, he said.

In early 2006 a first draft of the social statement will be distributed to the church for study and comment, Stumme said. An updated draft will be distributed in early 2007, he said.

On another subject, several board members questioned the content of an ethics policy – approved in November 2004 by the Church Council – which members were asked to sign. Most board members declined to sign the policy, "Board and Committee Operational Ethics Policy." The board adopted a resolution asking the council to review the content of the policy. Concerns identified by board members were a lack of clarity about confidentiality provisions in the policy, accountability and discipline for those who may violate the policy and due process for members who may be disciplined for possible violations.

This, too, may have been the final meeting of the DHES board. Should the Churchwide Assembly adopted the proposed reorganization plan, much of the division's work will become become part of a proposed Vocation and Education program unit, guided by a program advisory committee.

ELCA News Service