May 11, 2011

CHICAGO – What does it means to "live Lutheran" today? Members and congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are invited to answer that question and compete for ministry grants and cash prizes in the 2011 ELCA Video Contest.

Congregations could win a $3,000 or a $1,500 ministry grant, and individual entrants could win a $1,500 or $1,000 cash prize. Prizes will also be awarded to the congregation and individual entries voted most popular by registered users of http://www.livinglutheran.com.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for members and congregations to share their stories with the rest of the church and the world," said Scott J. Hendrickson, ELCA director for marketing and public relations. "We know that ELCA members are active in their communities, doing God's work with their hands. Now it's time to share those stories of ministry with others."

Entries will be accepted beginning May 17 through June 30; viewing of and voting for the videos will run through July 15. Details of the contest, including judging criteria, resources to help create videos, rules and frequently asked questions can be found at http://www.livinglutheran.com/contest. Odyssey Networks, New York, is the contest sponsor.

"I'm delighted that Odyssey Networks agreed to sponsor this event. A ministry grant can be of great help to a congregation trying to increase its outreach to its neighbors," Hendrickson said. "As Christians, we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbors. I'm excited to see how ELCA members are living out this call in their communities near and far."

Contest winners will be announced at the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly meeting in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 15-19. Selected entries, including the winning entries, will be shown in plenary sessions at the assembly.

This is the second ELCA video contest. In 2009, more than 200 videos were submitted by the ELCA congregations and members with their interpretations of the ELCA's tag line, "God's work. Our hands."

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with approximately 4.5 million members in more than 10,000 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.

ELCA News Service