Almen: Hopeful Trends For ELCA

At the recent Synod Assembly, Lowell Almen, secretary of the ELCA, fielded several questions about recruiting people for ministry during his Q&A workshop. The ELCA had been experiencing downward trends in the candidacy process, including fewer people seeking master of divinity degrees and a spike in the average age of ordinates. Hopeful signs have begun to emerge that reverse those trends, spurred by more congregations identifying people’s gifts and by the growing Fund for Leaders in Mission.

This fund currently provides for two full scholarships to each of the eight ELCA seminaries in the country, and churchwide now has a full-time staff person to solicit funds. The long-term “dream” goal is to have all candidates for ministry fully funded, and Almen encouraged congregations – who presently have a collective $1.5 billion in endowment, memorial and saving accounts – to contribute to the fund.

Equally vital to the challenge of encouraging more people to enter ministry, Almen said, is that rostered leaders emphasize the joys of serving the church. The simple question: “Have you ever thought about this vocation?” can help plant the seed. Also, to make sure that ministry is indeed joyful, Almen called for pastors and other leaders to have stronger mutual support for one another and a “willingness to broaden our vision to the opportunities God gifts us with.”

The secretary also addressed questions regarding the ELCA’s future. Almen said all of the threads of the North American Lutheran history are woven together in the fabric of the ELCA, and that we should continue to “foster catholic awareness of our participation in the whole church of Jesus Christ.” He warned against our large church being divided by regional cultures of country and synodical confederations. “Some leaders are behaving like kings of Egypt who have forgotten Joseph,” Almen said. “They’re ignoring years of prayer for unity in this church.”

He encouraged congregations to pay attention to inactive members. “We’ve worked hard to open the front door, but we’ve forgotten to close the back door,” he said. Folks often lose their connection with a congregation right when they need it the most – after trauma, job loss or embarrassing family crises – and someone in the congregation needs to care for seek them out and care for them. Healthy congregations also are those who promote a sense of unity and mission that reaches beyond their doors and who are excited about the future.

Almen fielded questions during the assembly as well, including updates on churchwide reorganization and ecumenical relationships. He emphasized the ELCA’s attention to Renewing Worship and utilizing technology to provide resources to congregations, and that the current sexuality studies should not overshadow the significance of these efforts at the 2005 general assembly.