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Administrator
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Associate in Ministry (also known as AIM)
Associates in Ministry are called and commissioned for
service in congregations, agencies, schools and
institutions of the ELCA. Their primary areas of service
are education, youth, spiritual formation, campus
ministry, outdoor ministry, music and the arts,
administration, service and general ministry.
Associate Pastor
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Bishop, Presiding
An ordained minister of Word and Sacrament who is a
teacher of the faith of this church and provides
leadership for the life and witness of this church. The
Presiding Bishop is the chief executive officer of the
churchwide organization, and is the chief ecumenical
officer of the church. The presiding bishop is elected
to a six-year term and may be reelected.
Bishop, Synod
A synodical bishop is an ordained minister of Word and
Sacrament in the ELCA, given the responsibility to
provide pastoral care and leadership in a synod and its
congregations, and seeks to strengthen the unity of the
Church. The bishop is the chief executive officer of the
synod, elected to a term of six years and may be
reelected.
Bishop's Assistant
A person who assists the synodical bishop in carrying
out the responsibilities of the office. A bishop’s
assistant or associate may be an ordained minister, a
rostered lay minister, or a layperson.
Chaplain
A pastor or theologically trained lay leader serving in
an institutional setting such as a hospital, nursing
home, prison, or college.
Church
Council Member
The Church Council of the ELCA is its board of
directors, serving as the interim legislative authority
between meetings of the Churchwide Assembly. The Church
Council meets at least two times each year, and is
composed of the four churchwide officers (presiding
bishop, vice-president, secretary and treasurer) and 33
other persons, elected to six year terms by the
Churchwide Assembly.
Churchwide Assembly Voting Member
The Churchwide Assembly is the highest legislative
authority of the churchwide organization. It reviews the
work of the churchwide officers and churchwide units. It
establishes churchwide policy and adopts the budget for
the churchwide organization. It has the sole authority
to amend the constitution and bylaws of the ELCA. The
Churchwide Assembly meets biennially in regular session.
Clergy
In the ELCA, the term “clergy” is normally used to
describe those who are ordained pastors of the church.
Commissioned Ministry
A term reserved for the rite by which an Associate in
Ministry moves on to the roster of the ELCA. A
Commissioned Associate in Ministry is then called to a
particular place for service.
Conference of Bishops
The Conference of Bishops is composed of the bishops of
the 65 synods, the presiding bishop, and the secretary
of the ELCA. The conference meets at least two times
each year and is a forum in which goals, objectives, and
strategies may be developed and shared concerning
pastoral leadership, care and counsel for the synods.
The Conference of Bishops reviews recommendations from
the
Vocation and Education
unit pertaining to policies and
programs related to the rosters of ordained ministers,
and the three rosters of lay ministers (associates in
ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers).
Consecrated Ministry
A term reserved for the rite by which Deaconesses and
Diaconal Ministers move onto the roster of the ELCA. A
Consecrated Deaconess or Diaconal Minister is then
called to a particular place for service.
Counselor
Pastoral counseling is defined as a ministry of
counseling conducted by an authorized representative of
the church who assumes a professional therapeutic role
within a covenanted relationship using both
psychological and theological frames of reference to
observe, understand, interpret, and foster healing and
wholeness in the process.
Deaconess
A category of rostered lay minister in the ELCA and an
outgrowth of the European Deaconess movement of the 19th
century. ELCA deaconesses are called and consecrated,
and serve in congregations, agencies and institutions of
the ELCA. They are members of the Deaconess Community of
the ELCA, and participate in the life of that community.
The official community for deaconesses of the ELCA has
its offices in Chicago, Illinois.
Diaconal Minister
A category of rostered lay minister in the ELCA,
established in 1993. ELCA diaconal ministers are called
and consecrated, and serve in congregations, agencies
and institutions of the ELCA. Their focus for ministry
is the extension of the church’s ministry of witness and
care into the world.
Education
Director
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Federal Chaplaincy
ELCA chaplains serving in Federal Prisons, Veterans
Administration hospitals, and the Armed Services (Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard).
Interim Ministry
Word and Sacrament ministry, following the resignation
or retirement of a congregation’s pastor. Purposes of
interim ministry include assisting with transition
following an extended pastorate, resolution of recent or
long-term conflicts, and assisting congregations making
significant transitions. This ministry is usually done
by a person who has received special interim ministry
training.
Lay
A term that refers to all the people of God. This word
typically distinguishes a person from one who is
ordained by the church. A related category is “lay
rostered,” which describes those who serve in leadership
roles as an associate in ministry, deaconess or diaconal
minister.
Minister
Used both as a synonym for the word “pastor” and as a
reference to the work of all the baptized. See Pastor
and Ministry in Daily Life.
Ministry in Daily Life
God's people fulfill their priesthood in a variety of
ways. Some — the clergy — are given special offices of
preaching the Word and administering the sacraments. But
the laity have their priestly functions too. According
to Luther, they are to pray for each other. They are to
listen to their sisters' and brothers' confessions of
sin and cries of distress. They are to speak God's
cheering word of forgiveness and consolation. They are
to be agents of God's overflowing goodness by
ministering to the poor and oppressed.
Missionary
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.
Music
Director / Organist
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Ordained Ministry
The ELCA confesses that within the people of God and for
the sake of the Gospel ministry entrusted to all
believers, God has instituted the office of ministry of
Word and Sacrament. To carry out this ministry, the ELCA
calls and ordains qualified persons. Ordination is the
rite by which a pastor moves on to the roster of the
ELCA. An ordained minister is then called to a
particular congregation for service.
Pastor
The normal term used to describe an ordained minister of
Word and Sacrament. A parish pastor serves in a
congregational setting. The term pastor may be used to
describe an ordained minister serving in a
non-congregational setting as well.
Roster
The official listings of those who have been ordained,
consecrated or commissioned and are called to service.
Secretary /
Administrative Assistant
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Secretary of the ELCA
The secretary of this church
shall serve under the presiding bishop of this church,
providing leadership, as specified in Chapter 11 of this
church’s constitution, bylaws, and continuing
resolutions, and shall fulfill the normal functions of
the secretary of a corporation.
Seminarian
A student within a theological education program,
typically leading to a M.Div. degree and eventual
ordination and call, but also other master's and
doctoral degrees.
Synod
Assembly
The Synod Assembly is the highest legislative authority
of the synod, with a regular meeting held at least
biennially (with most synod assemblies meeting
annually). All ordained ministers and all rostered lay
ministers are voting members, as are representative lay
members from every congregation within the synod.
Treasurer of the ELCA
The treasurer of this church
shall serve under the presiding bishop of this church,
providing leadership as specified in Chapter 11 of this
church’s constitution, bylaws, and continuing
resolutions, and shall fulfill the normal functions of
the treasurer of a corporation.
Vice President
of the ELCA
The vice president of this
church shall be a layperson who shall serve as chair of
the Church Council and, in the event the presiding
bishop is unable to do so, as chair of the Churchwide
Assembly. The vice president shall serve under the
presiding bishop of this church, providing leadership as
specified in provision 11.33. of this church’s
constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions. |
