Area Ministry Strategy

130-200

Partnership Support Application

Section A: Ministry Partners

What partnerships are you engaging in order to develop this area ministry strategy?

Please include all partners with a brief description of their current level of involvement in the strategy. For each ELCA congregation please include the information requested. If ELCA ministries in this strategy are currently receiving ELCA partnership support (new start, renewal, ethnic specific, hunger ministry, etc.) please include the amount, the fiscal year and the program area. (Add rows, as needed.)

Ministry Name (For ELCA Congregations) / ID Number / Name of Rostered Leader and time in call / Congre-
gational
Report
Form submitted? / Receiving Partnership Support?
(If yes, include FY, amount and program area)
Name of Other Ministry Partners / How are they involved in the AMS?

Section B: Partnership Support Request

What is the total requested amount of partnership support for this Area Ministry Strategy?

Amount / Amount / Amount
Fiscal Year / Fiscal Year / Fiscal Year

Section C: Mission Plan Background

1.How was this strategy developed? Who was involved in the discernment and planning?

2.Describe how this ministry fits into the synods’ strategy for mission.

3. A good area ministry strategy is grounded in listening and responding to what you hear:

a.How has listening to God informed this strategy?

b.How has listening to the surrounding community informed this strategy?

c.How has listening to the community of faith informed this strategy?

4. What is the vision for shared ministry that guides this strategy?

5. Strong leadership is essential for these strategies to move forward. Describe who the leaders will be in this effort? What is the role of synod staff including the DEM and Bishop?

6.Have faith-based community organizing principles informed your work and the developing vision for the area ministry strategy? If so, how?

7.Have faith-based community development principles informed your work and the developing vision for the area ministry strategy? If so, how?

Section D: Mission Field and Context

1.What is the area that your strategy hopes to impact? Include a brief description of the specific mission field along with a brief demographic analysis. How does the AMS mission field relate to the fields for each of the partners in this strategy?

2.How have representatives of the broader community (outside the various ministries represented) been engaged in your planning process?

3.Write a brief summary of the Area Ministry Strategy describing how the strategy will both have a specific, measurable impact on the defined area. If there are specific plans, include those here.

4.How will individual people be transformed both within the pastoral and lay leadership involved in this project? Additionally, how will the average person in the pew be impacted and renewed by this work?

5. What is the planned impact for renewal and transformation of congregational life for each of the partners? What specific actions are planned in order to have a measurable change happen for each congregation in this AMS?

Section E: Area Ministry Strategy Investments

1.One criteria is that AMS plans will demonstrate shared financial commitment among all partners.

a. What financial commitments are the current partners already making in order to advance this strategy (and/or seeking)?

b. What financial and in-kind commitments do partners intend to continue during the duration of this request?

c. What is the synod’s financial commitment to this Area Ministry Strategy?

2.What are the other assets in the partner ministries that give shape to this strategy?

3.In what other tangible ways have partners shown commitment to this Area Ministry Strategy to date?

Section F: Objectives and Planning Activities

Looking at the Expected Outcomes (below) and describe how this Area Ministry Strategy will address each objective in the overall strategy. Think in terms of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely).

  1. Have an increased awareness of how and where God is working in their community and how they are called to be part of God’s mission through the strategy;
  2. Develop action plans for congregational renewal and collective impact that reflect increasing awareness, attention and care for the neighborhood and community in which their ministry takes place;
  3. Transform the church through individuals whose faith and discipleship has been deepened by their engagement and who have been equipped as leaders to minister, serve, and work for justice;
  4. Engage all the baptized;
  5. Develop a deepened commitment to and engagement in faith-based community organizing and/or faith based community development as a means of practicing three great listenings – listening to and for God, listening within the communities of faith, and listening to those within the area served;
  6. Cultivate sound, holistic stewardship practices that include a focus on growth in mission support as well as an understanding of God’s unique gifting of each ministry partner.

Section G: Attachments

Please attached detailed budget information, including the following:

  1. List all sources of revenue/income
  2. Itemize all expenses
  3. Provide budget for both the prior year and the start year of the grant

Please attach a copy of the Congregational Trend Report for each congregational partner and the most recent annual report from any non-congregational community partners in this AMS.

Please attach a letter of recommendation from someone in the community/area who is not part of one of the ministry partners submitting this application (mayor, principal, etc.) describing why they think this strategy can make an impact in the area.