February 15, 2010

The Rev. Terrance Jabob (left), pastor of Jordan New Life Community Church, Minneapolis, receives a $35,000 check Feb. 4 from David Alexander, business administrator at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.

MINNEAPOLIS – Two urban congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are getting to know each other. One congregation gave the other money to help with finances, but the relationship is moving deeper than that. The money was a first step in what they hope to be a bigger plan.

The two congregations are Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis and Jordan New Life Community Church, which resides in the heart of Minneapolis' north side. Jordan New Life is a significant player in the revitalization of Minneapolis' north side, one of the poorest areas in the Twin Cities.

Central Lutheran and Jordan New Life are very different from one another, but both congregations have pledged to learn from the other.

The involvement began two years ago, when Central Lutheran started a capital campaign. Members of Central raised $1.8 million and decided to set aside 10 percent of all its funds received to be given away to help make a difference in the lives of people afflicted by disaster in America.

Central provided $56,000 to Jordan New Life to repair the church's leaky roof and another $35,000 to help close out Jordan New Life's mortgage. These financial gifts allowed Jordan New Life to focus on investing its resources in the revitalization of its community.

"We were trying to get a loan from the (ELCA) Mission Investment Fund to pay off our mortgage at a significant savings – 50 percent," said the Rev. Terrance Jacob, pastor at Jordan New Life. "Central thought this would be a good way to help us meet our financial obligation," he said.

As the Rev. Rick Nelson, pastor at Central Lutheran Church, sees it, "This was something we could do that would free up $500 to $600 a month for them to engage in mission. It was another expression that we were serious about getting to know and relating more with each other."

The relationship between Central Lutheran and Jordan New Life is in the infancy stages. Although the relationship is based on sharing resources, both congregations want a relationship that is open about one another's strengths, weaknesses and approaches to ministry.

"Each congregation has challenges being in the city," said Jacob. "And I think that sharing our approaches and stories to these challenges, one of them being demographic challenges, might be a good part of the conversation as mission partners," he said. Jacob sees Jordan New Life helping Central by discussing diversity and reaching out to communities of color in an effective way.

Nelson sees this relationship moving toward annual fellowship events, choir visits and preaching exchanges. "We don't know where it will lead," said Nelson. "But our initial commitment remains. We hope to engage, learn and build bridges between our congregations."

Information about Central Lutheran Church is at http://www.centralmpls.org/ and Jordan New Life at http://www.jordannewlife.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service
Sara Masters is director of communication for the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod.