ELCA Congregations Learn about 21st Century Evangelism

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are learning to rely on one another for care and depend less on the pastor as the one-and-only care-giver, according to the Rev. Marta Poling-Goldenne, an ELCA director for evangelism. The idea of laity-led ministry will be shared in Los Angeles, July 17-18, at "Evangelism Connections 1998," an ecumenical conference on "21st century Evangelism."
"Prayer, guidance and accountability among Christians are replacing ... pastor-exclusive chaplaincy," said Poling-Goldenne.
At King of Kings Lutheran Church, Shelby Township, Mich., "We are here to be the church to one another," said the Rev. Louis R. Forney. In an interview Forney said, "It's become the culture here that people care for one another and count less on clergy to be the primary care-giver."
King of Kings was formed seven years ago and now has a baptized membership of 900 people. "As membership increased, it became difficult for me to make all of the hospital calls and touch base with people going through difficult times," Forney said. "I looked to the Bible for some other models of doing ministry and learned that ministry should not be in the hands of the pastor alone. Everyone, through Baptism, is called to be a minister."
Forney said he defines the role of a pastor as a trainer, mentor and permission-giver. "My role is to teach people and let them know they can do ministry with one another," he said.
"ELCA congregations use support groups, care groups and small group ministries to empower members to care for one another through the storms of life," said Poling-Goldenne. "Small group ministry is also a powerful way to invite people to church."
"Small group ministries at our church are designed for members to develop relationships with others and God," said Patricia Liles Smith, an associate in ministry at Community Lutheran Church, Las Vegas. "Small groups provide a support system for new church members. It is a way to make friends and build relationships, reasons why people join a church." Smith will be a keynote presenter at Evangelism Connections.
Lutheran congregations are also learning to interpret the gospel in ways that make sense to the unchurched and non-Christians, said Poling-Goldenne. "Congregations that prosper use everyday language to connect with their neighbors. They are caring enough to translate the old story into new and different languages with communication strategies that truly connect people of all ages," she said.
"Congregations are also learning to reach beyond church walls to bring healing, morality and value formation into the real world of daily living," said Poling-Goldenne. "Congregations know that their greatest value lies in how well they help Christians live in the real world."
The Evangelism Connections event features 10 workshops on topics that range from small group ministry to music for worship services. The event will be "a partnership of seven mainline Protestant denominations focusing on the ministry of evangelism," said Poling-Goldenne. "We are bringing people together to teach one another about ministry. This is the new model for ecumenism for the 21st century. It is not a model based on policy and theology handed down from the top, but a model based on bringing congregations together to share and teach each other about what works," she said.
The first Evangelism Connections took place April 17-18 in Atlanta. Another event is scheduled for Nov. 6-7 in Cincinnati.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html