CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran outdoor ministry organizations across the United States are working to improve the quality of their programs with a $775,000 grant from Solutions 2000, a program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL), a fraternal benefits organization based in Appleton, Wis.
Solutions 2000 is designed to help "increase the ability of outdoor ministry organizations to deliver high quality programs and services," said Mark D. Burkhardt, co-chair of Solutions 2000 and ELCA director for outdoor ministries. There are 145 ELCA outdoor ministry programs and sites across the United States and Caribbean.
"Lutheran outdoor ministries across the country, working independently, have developed many excellent processes and operational strategies," Burkhardt said. "The Solutions 2000 grant allows us to leverage the strengths of individual organizations to benefit all grant participants, as well as expose outdoor ministry leaders to new management techniques."
The purpose of Solutions 2000 is to teach outdoor ministry leaders how to make better decisions by using a systems approach to management; provide an integrated management software package to solve critical outdoor ministry management needs; share and exchange best management practices; and explore and establish mutually beneficial partnerships between AAL and Lutheran outdoor ministry organizations.
The mission of ELCA outdoor ministries is to "affirm and experience our interrelationship with all of God's creation in an intentional Christian community." The church's outdoor ministries seeks to encourage spiritual growth for the whole person by providing encounter with Scripture; experience and care for the environment, witness of staff, and opportunities for worship, recreation and the development of relationships.
Solutions 2000 offers: + A full-day "System Thinking" seminar. Outdoor ministry leaders will learn how to assess their organization using a "systems analysis tool" and identify organizational areas that need improvement. + A computer software package called "Lutheran CampTrak." The software contains modules designed to help manage data related to summer camp programs, retreats, group events and recording of gifts and pledges.
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
