Rites Proposed for ELCA Lay Ministers

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board for the Division for Congregational Ministries, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has sent to the ELCA Church Council the proposed rites for the installation and commissioning of associates in ministry and for the consecration and installation of diaconal ministers. The action was taken at its meeting here Feb. 28-Mar. 1.
     Associates in ministry include church staff workers, lay professionals and day school teachers that serve in congregations, agencies, schools and institutions of the ELCA.  They have four primary areas of service: education, music and the arts, administration service and general ministry. Associates in ministry are called and commissioned for service. Their theological studies include Bible, church history, Lutheran theology and confession.
     Diaconal ministers work in either church or secular settings, "under call" from an ELCA congregation, synod or churchwide ministry, helping the church to "serve in response to God's love to meet human needs."  After satisfying academic standards in theology and a secular specialization, diaconal ministers are called and consecrated for service.  The ELCA adopted this form of lay ministry in 1993.
     The Rev. Paul R. Nelson, ELCA director for worship, said, "The proposed rites are essentially new rites for associates in ministries."
     "We have used rites from our predecessor church bodies to celebrate the commissioning and installation of associates in ministry," said Nelson.  "We have now the completion of the church's supporting documents for associates in ministry," he said.
     The liturgical review of these proposed documents was carried out by Nelson in consultation with the ELCA's Division for Ministry and reviewers including rostered associates in ministry, ordained pastors and others.
     "Comments from the reviewers, in addition to their evaluation forms and ratings, have been considered carefully and many have been integrated into the proposed rites," said Nelson.
     If the proposed texts are positively received by the Church Council, these rites will become the commended rites of this church for commissioning and installing associates in ministry," he said.  Commendation are "resources that have undergone extensive liturgical review and are now commended for general use in the church."  The Church Council will meet here April 3-6.
     "I am glad that the church is lifting our sisters and brothers who serve as associates in ministry," said Beth Ann Lectenberger, Christ Lutheran Church, Bethesda, Md.  "The ritual of commissioning and consecrating should be as rich and meaningful as the celebration of our other rostered leaders," she said.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html