their congregations are “at risk” of not being able to afford full-time pastors. Unable to expand beyond our Ger- manic and Nordic niche, we are seen to be fading away.


Denominations are viewed as an anachronism from a former time when Christendom rose before the sun, when denominational loyalty could be assumed, when the surrounding cul- ture supported the churchgoing of the next generations (released time, blue laws and the like).


Now denominations are regarded as clunky and irrelevant to the emerg- ing forms of mission needed to address this postmodern, flat world of globalization, mass social networking on the Internet, relative truth, and sus- picion of authority, texts or a uniting narrative.


And yet, this past year our denomi- nation started 70 missions, by far the most in our history. More than half of these starts are to immigrant and ethnic populations in what America is becoming. And so I ask, with some hope and mission resolve: “Do denominations still matter?” Ed Stetzer, director of Lifeway Research, a ministry arm of the South- ern Baptist Convention, believes they do.


In an article in Christianity Today (June, 2010) Stetzer said: “I work in a denomination … that is at times dysfunctional and unwise (like me). I grow weary of denominational foolishness and its drama. The idea of working independently is tempt- ing at times. Given all that, call me a cautious believer in the idea that we can do more for the kingdom of God by doing it together with people of common conviction—which usually means in a denomination—than by doing it alone.” Let’s examine the areas he high- lights as places where denominations still bring something to the mission party.


A tool of mission


Global mission partnerships, local church planting, and the training, deployment and support of missionar- ies and mission developers are areas where denominations matter. Stetzer wrote: “When I hear about


a pastor’s revolutionary idea to partner a local congregation with congrega- tions overseas to work together in mission, I say, ‘Great. Be sure to learn from the Wesleyan Church. They have been doing that, very well, for a long time.’ ”


So has the ELCA. With a clear and biblical mission theology of accom- paniment, rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus for the life of the world, the ELCA’s companion pro- gram enables synods and congrega- tions to partner with mission churches around the globe.


As the former bishop of the Met- ropolitan New York Synod, the com- panion synod relationship with the North-Western Diocese of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania resulted in planting a new school, exchange of clergy and lay leaders, and the expanded horizons of many leaders in New York who learned from visits with leaders from Tanzania. And its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Romania shared similar results, including the first English-language ministry begun by two synod pastors (Terri Luper and Michael Church) in the university city of Cluj.


Now multiply that by 65 synods and more than 100 companion synods around the world.


Denominational global mission is often much quieter than similar efforts generated by independent congrega- tions. As Stetzer reminds us, “novelty gets attention, and entrepreneurial networks and churches need to make a splash in order to win people to their new effort. But most world missions and church planting are done through


Emergent church T


he “emergent ministry” out- reach in Portland, Ore., dubbed The Leaven Project, has two lead- ers: Melissa Reed, a mission pas- tor, and Wendy Hall, a community organizer. Both are young adults, as is the focus of the outreach. This young-adult oriented min- istry is supported and housed by Redeemer Lutheran Church, a vital urban congregation with a dwin- dling membership, as an invest- ment in the future. The Oregon Synod and the ELCA participate in this ministry through financial and consulting support. The effort is part of a citywide church-based community organi- zation. It helps its growing mem- bership develop a sense of commu- nity by making a difference in the world around them and gives them a profound sense of spiritual depth. While some participants speak


the name of Jesus with abiding faith, others would never have been caught near an institutional church until their encounter with The Leaven Project (www. leavenproject.org). Prayers, personal witness and testimony about their lives coupled with the lighting of candles gave liturgical rhythm and connection to a com- munity tethered to the narrative of Jesus and the church of the ages.


Stephen P. Bouman


denominations.” ELCA networks globally and locally rely on continuing mission vocational discernment, training and support. They are connected to ecu- menical networks for mission. Their funding has many partners. Lutheran missionaries worldwide are con- nected to Lutheran World Relief, the Lutheran World Federation and global Lutheran denominations. Church


February 2011 21


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