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Ministry in the world One potential issue with the roster change deals with education. When the ELCA was formed, the lay leaders were brought in from the predecessor church bodies and the title “associate in ministry” was used. Some of those who remain on the lay rosters don’t have a master’s degree in theology or a related area, which could be part of the expectation of deacons going forward, although the competencies of candidates would also be considered. Jim Valentine approves of the educational


component, though he didn’t earn his master’s until after he was serving as an associate in ministry at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Ill. Valentine began his service as a youth director


for the congregation in 1980. He was grandfathered into the ELCA as an associate in ministry from his lay professional title in the former Lutheran Church in America. His role changed 13 years ago when he was named the congregational operations officer, and he earned a master’s degree in theology going to school part time. “I can see some squirming from people who say


there’s really no choice as to whether they join the new roster or not. I see a unified roster, with clear


Jim Valentine (right), associate in ministry and congrega- tional operations officer at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Ill., looks at building renovation blue- prints with a contractor. Valentine thinks the proposed unification of the lay roster will bring better emphasis to equipping people for ministry.


educational requirements as a really good thing,” he said. “I think a lot of leaders are under-trained. A lot of associates in ministry especially don’t have a seminary background. They don’t have the theological and biblical underpinning that I think is necessary to be a rostered leader in the church. One of the upsides of the new roster is that people will be better trained and will be able to serve the church and the world better than they do now.” In addition to determining education


requirements, Valentine said there are aspects of the unification process that need to be resolved, including housing allowances and whether deacons will be ordained or consecrated. “I am hoping that [with] a more diaconal


focused roster by combining these three groups into one, there will be a better emphasis on the ministry of the whole laity,” he said. “That will be hard to do. But I’m hoping 10 years from now this diaconal roster will be so focused on equipping people for ministry out in the world that regardless of how they are partnered with the ordained, there will be a new emphasis in the church on getting people out there to do ministry and not just bringing people into the pews.”


LAY ROSTERED LEADERS Q & A


Q: In what roles do lay rostered leaders serve? A: Lay rostered leaders serve as musicians, teachers/ educators, church administrators, social workers, community-based organizers and chaplains.


Q: Where can lay rostered leaders be found? A: They can serve in several settings, such as schools, congregations, advocacy offices, Lutheran social service agencies and hospitals.


LAY ROSTERS 101 People on the current lay rosters include associates


in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers. They serve in a ministry of “word and service” compared to the ministry of “word and sacrament.” Word and service leaders: • Are trained and called by the church to ministries throughout the church and the world.


• Equip the baptized for ministry in the world. • Commit to innovative service within the church and in the world.


• Give particular attention to the suffering places in the world.


Photo: Karen Dersnah 24 JULY 2016


Favre is an associate professor of Pierce College in Los Angeles and a freelance theater critic.


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