ELCA Will "Develop Leaders for the Next Century"

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Team leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) initiative to "develop leaders for the next century" have awarded $57,900 in grants to 34 congregations, synods, projects and = agencies of the ELCA. =20
A goal of the initiative is to develop leaders that will "minister to = an increasingly complex and rapidly changing society" by providing educational=

opportunities and financial support.
The grants were given to projects that pair experienced leaders with potential candidates for congregation and institutional leadership, = establish resource networks, and "immerse" leaders "in the life of a culture or organization."=20
"We were inspired to see so much creativity in the applications," = said the Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, bishop of the ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod. = "The requests for grants showed innovative ideas and alliances for developing = young leaders for the church at a very critical time." Ullestad chairs the initiative team.=20
Examples of successful applications came from Lutheran Social = Services (LSS) of Metropolitan New York; Ascension Lutheran Church, Los Angeles, = and First Lutheran Church, Carson, Calif.; and the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod based in Duluth.
In Metropolitan New York, six Lutheran congregations in the South = Bronx will sponsor a program to recruit "mentors" for children in LSS foster, boarding and group homes. The program calls for training leaders to work = with foster children aged 12 and older.
"Besides offering youngsters an adult friend and role model, these mentors will provide young people with access to employment, educational opportunities and social resources," the application says.
Members of Ascension and First Lutheran Churches will select youth = from the congregations and community who have demonstrated leadership potential = in school. Ranging in age from 12 to 24, young people will be paired with an adult to help develop skills in public speaking, small group leadership, written and oral presentations, conducting effective meetings and = identifying community resources.=20
The ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod has invited lay Hispanic = leaders to attend a leadership training in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. The = training will provide opportunities for work in the synod.
LSS of Metropolitan New York and the congregations in California will receive $2,000 each over the next two years. The Northwestern Minnesota = Synod project will receive $1,500 in the same period.=20
Team leaders of the ELCA initiative will plan an event -- "What Makes Good Leaders Tick?" -- Feb. 19-21, 1999 in Chicago. The event will bring together leaders "who have modeled leadership traits through various walks = of life in order to see what the church can learn about identifying leaders = for the next century, and how we can help people to recognize their potential = for leadership," Ullestad said.
In addition to the three programs, the following organizations were awarded grants:=20
+ The ELCA's Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod, $1,500
+ "Evangelizing More Boldly," Gainesville, Fla., $2,000
+ Santa Cruz Lutheran Church, Joliet, Ill., $2,000
+ Lutheran Ministry, Fenway, Mass., $2,000
+ Northern Rockies Institute of Theology, Great Falls, Mont., $2,000
+ Big Spring Lutheran Ministry Co-op, Newville, Pa., $2,000=20
+ Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, $2,000
+ Koinonia Lutheran Camp, Highland, N.Y., $2,000=20
+ Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Prison and Family Ministry, = Des Plaines,
Ill., $2,000
+ First Lutheran Church, Kearny, N.J., $800=20
+ Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., $2,000
+ Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry, Cook, Minn., $1,000
+ Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Box Elder, Mont., $2,000
+ Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chicago, $2,000=20
+ St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Woodbridge, Va., $800
+ Lutheran Ministries, Rockford, Ill., $2,000
+ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Albany, Ore., $700
+ Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center, Grand Forks, N.D., $2,000
+ Lutheran Counseling Services, Inc., Winter Park, Fla., $1,000
+ Region 3, ELCA, St. Paul, Minn., $2,000
+ Churches' Center for Land and People, Sinsinawa, Wis., $2,000
+ Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, North Quincy, Mass., $1,500
+ Lutheran Campus Ministry, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., $1,100
+ Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria, Washington, D.C., $2,000
+ North/West Lower Michigan Synod, Lansing, Mich., $2,000
+ East Bay Conference of Churches, Oakland, Calif., $2,000
+ Prison Congregations of America, Vermillion, S.C., $2,000
+ EWALU Camp and Retreat Center, Strawberry Point, Iowa, $2,000
+ Lutheran Campus Ministry, Fresno, Calif., $2,000
+ Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, Washington, D.C., $1,000
+ St. Dysmas Congregation in Springfield, Menno, S.D., $1,000
All 34 grant recipients will furnish follow-up reports to the = initiative team.
In 1997 the ELCA Churchwide Assembly selected seven significant areas = of ministry for the 21st century. From that the ELCA has begun planning for = new ways to deepen worship life, teach the faith, witness God's action in the world, strengthen one another in mission, provide a safe place for = children, connect with youth and young adults, and provide leadership development.
Leadership teams were formed early last year to provide overall = guidance for the work of congregations, synods and churchwide organizations. Team leaders help provide an overall picture of how the church may be different = as a result of the Initiatives.

*Mark Staples is coordinator of publications and public information for =
The
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
=20 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html