by Luke Tatge*, ELCA News Service
Mountain View Lutheran Church, Edgewood, Wash., a congregation of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was one of six
Christian churches awarded "Cultures of Call" grants from the
Fund for Theological Education (FTE), Atlanta. According to FTE,
the grant "provides financial support for activities and
reflection designed to help congregations nurture the principles
and practices that support vocational discernment" and the call
to ministry, particularly among youth and young adults.
Mountain View received $12,000 for its initiative, "Called by
Name: Vocation and God's Sense of Call," which is comprised of a
children, youth and family ministry; annual congregation
retreats; and an educational center for pastors and lay leaders.
As part of its ministry, Mountain View plans to hold biannual
events, beginning Oct. 10 with "Dream-Discover-Discern," focusing
on challenges facing churches and opportunities for youth and
family involvement.
FTE awards grants from $3,000 to $12,000 through its Calling
Congregations initiative. It plans to award nearly $300,000 by
2009. The ELCA is one of five Christian denominations
represented among the congregations that received grants.
*Luke Tatge is a senior journalism major at Augustana College,
Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer he is an intern with the ELCA News
Service.
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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
