by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
The annual meeting of the Small Town and Rural (STaR) Ministry
Alliance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is
June 13-16 at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. STaR
Ministry Alliance members share a commitment to proclaiming the
gospel in small town and rural settings throughout the ELCA, said
Sandra A. LaBlanc, director for rural ministry networking and
resourcing, ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission
(EOCM), Des Moines, Iowa.
The meeting includes two events. "Discovering Hope," June 13-14,
is focused on evangelism in rural ministry, LaBlanc said.
Tex Sample, coordinator, U.S. Network for the Study of U.S.
Lifestyles, Goodyear, Ariz., is keynote speaker. Prayer,
worship, discipleship, evangelism, caring ministries and
leadership are topics of workshops.
The second event, "Celebrating Rural Life," June 14-16, is
focused on "concrete models of hope," LaBlanc said. Keynote
speakers are the Rev. Peter W. Marty, host of "Grace Matters,"
the radio ministry of the ELCA, and senior pastor of St. Paul
Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa; and the Rev. Ruben F. Duran,
director, new congregational development, EOCM. Ten special-
interest "affinity groups" will meet to plan activities, and at
least 21 workshops are planned, LaBlanc said. For the first
time, participants can earn continuing education credits at the
gathering, she added. The meetings are sponsored by the ELCA
Southeastern Minnesota and ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synods.
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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
