New Plans for ELCA Worship, Outdoor Ministry

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The worship team of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will "lead, encourage and support the worship of God" in the church based on a new plan.  The board of the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM) accepted the team's plan when it met here Feb. 28-Mar. 2.
     The church plans to encourage the ministry of Word and Sacrament in congregations; to train congregational leaders to plan and lead worship more effectively; to produce worship resources to supplement the "Lutheran Book of Worship" and to develop approaches to leadership in worship which help people understand that the diversity of responsible choices in worship is a strength of Lutheran worship not a weakness.
     "In their plan for 1997 to the year 2001, the worship team will explore what it has to contribute to the worship life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America," said the Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director for DCM.
     "Our intent is to model leadership based not only on technical expertise with regard to our inherited tradition, but on mutual respect of one another and careful discussion of issues," said the Rev. Paul R. Nelson, ELCA director for worship.

     Worship is "the encounter with God's saving work through Word and Sacraments where the whole of human life is centered and organized around the crucified and risen Christ, where the Church of Christ, `the assembly of the saints,' is created and where its mission for the world is rooted and nourished," according to the plan.
     The church will serve in the development and distribution of worship materials, training for worship planners and leaders, support for partnerships, research and evaluation of ELCA worship practices and needs, and the support for churchwide worship.
     The team hopes to identify, develop, train and support leaders, deepen commitment to the greater Christian tradition, and encourage growth and innovation, explained Nelson.
     "The most challenging part, for almost all of the goals, is not so much finding the energy and commitment but finding the way we can support them in actual staff time and actual budget dollars," said Nelson.
     "The most exciting aspect of the plan is the chance to begin to put together a constructive proposal that gives the church a focus for what is coming next in worship, rather than looking at worship resources as something eroding away.  This is a very important thing for us to turn the corner, and to do that on the basis of a new generation of research that will keep us in a meaningful conversation with our congregations," said Nelson.
     "The worship team will develop a process to provide resources that support worship life, particularly for what will follow the `Lutheran Book of Worship,'" said Bullock.
     "This is not an announcement for the production of a new worship book.  The worship team will design an expandable process to build credibility into resource production that builds on experience and evaluation," said Bullock.
     "I am excited about the worship team's plan," said the Rev. Gary Anderson, board member, Incarnation Lutheran Church, Shoreview, Minn.  "I feel that we have gone through a long period where we have not had a great deal from the church at large.  We have been left with making our own assessment.  People will continue to do that, and that is good, but we also need materials coming from the church at large," he said.
     "The role of our board is to provide advice and direction for the work of the Division for Congregational Ministries," said Bullock.  "The board also accepted the multi-year plan for the ELCA's outdoor ministry program," she said.
     We are "committed to affirming and experiencing our interrelationship with all of God's creation in intentional Christian communities," said Mark Burkhardt, ELCA director for outdoor ministy.
     "Outdoor ministry encourages spiritual growth for the whole person by providing encounters with scripture, experience and care of the environment, witness of staff, and opportunities for worship, re-creation, and development of relationships," said Burkhardt.
     For the years 1997 to 1999, the outdoor ministry team plans to build a diverse and stable financial base for the outdoor ministry network; to build outdoor ministry's identity as an interdependent partner in the mission and ministry of the ELCA; to provide effective communication for the network; to develop well-trained, committed and diverse leadership for the network; and to enhance the quality of outdoor ministry programs.
     The outdoor ministry network includes all professional, non- professional and volunteer leaders and decision makers who work for or relate to ELCA affiliated outdoor ministry organizations, said Burkhardt.
     "The experience of outdoor ministry for my daughters' growing-up years helped them to shape and direct their lives today," said Susan Hermodson, board member, West Lafayette, Ind. "Outdoor ministry programs help young people discern what they are going to do in their lives.  It provides a community for our young people to enrich and strengthen their faith," she said.

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