ELCA Global Mission - Frequently Asked Questions

In Matthew 28:19-20 and many other biblical passages, God calls us to participate in God’s mission by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed. "Global mission" refers to the way the ELCA responds to God’s call to mission outside the United States.

In global mission, the ELCA practices the accompaniment model for mission, which calls churches to walk together in service in God’s mission while each church maintains primary responsibility for its own area. Here’s how global mission practices have shifted under this paradigm.

Old mission model	Accompaniment mission model
Missionaries served in primary ministries like evangelism, education, and curative health care	ELCA builds and strengthens churches by sending missionaries when requested; and through direct grants and scholarship funds
Ministry directed by U.S. or European Lutheran church or mission agency	Ministry directed by indigenous church
The majority of missionaries were ordained pastors	70 percent are lay people
Missionaries devoted entire lives to serve	8-10 year long-term and many short-service term opportunities engage more of God’s people in sharing their gifts in mission
North American church saw itself as the "sender" of personnel, expertise, money	The ELCA sends, receives and exchanges gifts with companion churches. Missionaries from Brazil, Japan, the Philippines, and El Salvador are developing new ELCA ministries and congregations in New Jersey, Colorado, California, and Wisconsin
Few independent churches	In 1990 the ELCA related to 56 companion churches; in 2006, the ELCA relates to 74 companions

The total 2007 budget for global mission is $29 million including 12 million in World Hunger funds. $9 million supports 276 adult missionaries in 49 countries. The remaining funds support direct grants to companion churches and ministries, which use them build programs in Christian education, health, evangelism, and theological education. Global mission funds also provide leadership training for companion church leaders. In addition, the ELCA annually disburses about $12 million in World Hunger funds for international health, development, and relief programs sponsored by Lutheran World Relief, the Lutheran World Federation, ecumenical agencies, and companion churches.

As of September 30, 2007 ELCA Global Mission supported 276 adult mission personnel, including long-term and short-term appointments, self-supported volunteers, seminary interns, and participants in the Young Adults in Global Mission program. In addition, the ELCA supports programs that engage South-South missionaries sent from one companion church to another. The ELCA placed 120 new mission personnel in service between January 1 and September 30, 2007.

Yes. Through the faithful service of missionaries, the church of Jesus Christ has been planted in almost every country in the world. Lutheran churches established by former missionaries are independent, self-governing, and most are growing quickly. Local leaders have replaced missionaries in most areas of ministry and are leading the development of new churches in their region. These Lutheran and other churches are taking the lead in sending missionary evangelists into new areas of outreach. The ELCA supports some of these "South-South" mission efforts while also continuing to provide ELCA missionaries when requested.

Yes. Companion churches continue to ask the ELCA to provide mission personnel with specific skills. ELCA missionaries serve as seminary professors, teachers, librarians, counselors, accountants, computer consultants, and pastors, among others. Check www.elca.org/globalserve to see current openings for long-term and short-term international mission appointments and self-supporting volunteer positions.

ELCA Global Mission manages the process of promoting opportunities for service, and the recruitment, screening and appointment of candidates. All persons serving in international settings with the ELCA are considered missionaries regardless of the length or type of service.

If you would like to explore global mission service, check the latest listing that provides information about volunteer, young adult, two-year and long-term service. An application that you can download from the link is a necessary step that will begin the process of exploring global mission service.

As of September 30, 2007, ELCA mission personnel (long-term and short-term staff and self-supporting volunteers) are present in 49 countries. For complete details, request a copy of the 2007 Global Mission Annual from ELCA Global Mission at (800) 638-3522, extension 2642. This document is not available online.