CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) may be losing as many as 20 to 25 percent of its African American pastors because of retirement in the next few years, according to the Rev. W. Arthur Lewis, Atonement Lutheran Church, Atlanta. "Where are the younger ones? We need to identify and encourage them."=20
At its meeting here March 12-13, the steering committee of the ELCA's Commission for Multicultural Ministries (CMM) discussed ways to bring more people from the African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander and Latino communities into leadership positions in the church. The steering committee expressed concern that new leaders should be identified, encouraged and trained, said Lewis, chair of the committee.
"The future of ethnic-specific ministry depends on how well we equip and engage people for evangelism ministry, and how we nurture rostered pastors in our church," said the Rev. Frederick E.N. Rajan, executive director for CMM.
The committee asked Rajan to develop a report on where the ELCA stands with ordained and lay leadership from the communities. The steering committee plans to begin a discussion on ethnic leadership in the church at its October 1999 meeting.
The committee also held a discussion on the size of ELCA reserve funds. Some of those funds should be allocated for ethnic-specific ministries, many of which are struggling financially, said Lewis in an interview. "Doing so could help the ELCA reach its goal of 10 percent of its membership coming from the ethnic communities." =20
The ELCA is made up of 5.2 million members in 11,000 congregations in the United States and Caribbean. People of color or whose primary language is not English make up a little more than 2 percent of the ELCA's membership.
[*Sonia C. Solomonson is managing editor of 'The Lutheran' magazine of the ELCA.]
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities 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.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
