A Consultation on Leadership Development

New Wine, New Wineskins: Preparing For Mission and Ministry in New Times

A Consultation on Leadership Development in Latin America and the Caribbean Region was held from August 7 – 11, 2012 in Bogota, Colombia. This consultation responded to the desire that ELCA companion churches in Latin America and the Caribbean expressed for new models of leadership development to shape the kinds of lay and ordained leaders that carry the mission and ministry of the church forward into the new times of the 21st century. Some of the key questions that drove this process were: What are the contextual factors influencing churches? What kind of churches are needed in the future (ecclesiology)? What kinds of leaders can guide the church into these new ways of being (pastoral models, diversification of ministries, lay leadership)? What kinds of leadership development programs can help form the leaders who will shape the future of the church?

Until now, there had been no opportunity for our companion churches in the LAC region to enter into a regional dialogue about these issues with the seminaries and other academic programs that provide most of the formal training for their leaders. The ELCA Global Mission Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Team together with Global Mission Leadership Development created this consultation on leadership development for mission and ministry. The objectives of the consultation were:

1. To create a space for dialogue between seminaries/other educational institutions and ELCA companion churches in the LAC region on current efforts, needs, and challenges in the formation of leaders for mission and ministry.
    
2. To make visible the contextual challenges and existing leadership development initiatives of both the Lutheran churches and the seminaries/other educational institutions of the region.
    
3. To provide an opportunity for ELCA seminaries and leaders, as well as ecumenical partners, to participate and learn from this dialogue.
    
4. To sketch a roadmap of strategic directions and priorities around leadership development for mission and ministry that will guide how the ELCA relates to companion churches and educational institutions in the region.

The consultation will include approximately 40 participants with the following representation: LAC companion churches, LAC seminaries and other educational institutions, ELCA seminaries and leaders, special guests and observers and Global Mission Staff.   MORE INFORMATION TO COME!