ELCIC Global Mission - Overview

ELCIC Global Mission partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

The ELCIC has a new approach and a new name for its world mission program – ELCIC Global Mission (GM). This new model for the ELCIC’s participation in God’s mission in the world comes about through a partnership agreement with ELCA Global Mission (GM).

Accompaniment Methodology for Mission

As an overarching aspect of the ELCIC’s partnership agreement with ELCA GM, the ELCIC is embracing the accompaniment methodology for mission which is defined by ELCA GM as walking together in solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality with companions.

What is a Companion?

ELCIC GM is using the word companion in the same way it is used by ELCA GM.  Previously in the ELCIC, companion was used only to refer to a church which has a relationship with an ELCIC synod in the Companion Synod Program. Companion now also refers to a church outside of Canada and the United States which has a bilateral relationship at the national church level with the ELCIC. Companion church is the term that ELCIC GM is using in place of partner church.

Companion Relationships

The ELCIC has companion relationships with the Lutheran churches in Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Guyana, El Salvador, Jordan & the Holy Land, Cameroon and, until the end of 2009, Papua New Guinea. ELCA GM has companion relationships with all of these same eight Lutheran churches plus many more. The ELCIC will continue to relate directly to three companion Lutheran Churches, in Argentina, Peru and Jordan & the Holy Land.  ELCA GM staff will represent the ELCIC when they relate to the other companion churches. Five of the ELCIC’s eight companion Lutheran churches are twinned with ELCIC Synods in the Companion Synod Program to engage ELCIC synods, congregations and members in mission with their companion at a personal level.

Global Service

Global service is a key element of the ELCIC’s partnership with ELCA GM. The ELCIC is no longer recruiting for mission personnel directly. ELCIC members interested in global service can now contact the ELCA GM office in Chicago where the global service staff team will respond to inquiries, receive applications and conduct interviews. ELCIC members who qualify for global service may be placed by ELCA GM staff in volunteer or compensated positions. ELCIC members assigned to global service by ELCA GM are included on the mission personnel poster on the ELCIC GM web site. Also, Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) is continuing to offer the International Volunteer Service (IVS) program and ELCIC members interested in the IVS program should contact CLWR directly.

ELCIC Long-term Missionaries

The three current ELCIC long-term missionary positions (Rev. Brian Rude, El Salvador; Rev. Fran Schmidt, Peru; Lori Endress, Thailand) are continuing entirely under the administration, supervision and financial support of the ELCIC. Any new ELCIC candidates for long-term missionary service will be considered only for joint ELCA/ELCIC placements supervised by ELCA GM and funded by the ELCA and ELCIC missionary sponsorship programs.

Amazon and Patagonia Mission

At the request of companion churches in Argentina and Peru, ELCIC GM supports local pastors to continue the work previously done by Canadian missionaries. Patagonia Mission was established in 2002 in southern Argentina where ELCIC missionaries served for many years, first the Niebergalls and then the Kiels. Amazon Mission was established in 2007 in the Iquitos area of Peru where Katharine Bergbusch served for three years prior to her retirement. Patagonia Mission and Amazon Mission are continuing entirely under the administration, supervision and financial support of the ELCIC. These two program areas are funded only by mission sponsorships from the ELCIC!

Mission & Missionary Sponsorship

ELCIC GM provides opportunities to engage in world mission through the Mission & Missionary Sponsorship program. Participants help provide financial and prayer support for long-term missionaries or local mission pastors and develop closer ties with them. This is an opportunity for individuals, groups and congregations to join in partnership with a particular missionary or local mission pastor and their work. ELCIC has not given up responsibility for world mission!

Program and Project Grants

Grants are provided by ELCIC GM to companion churches to help support their programs and projects. Also, through an agreement with CLWR, funds for development projects are provided each year by CLWR as Church Priority Partnership grants. Examples of ELCIC GM and CLWR support include the grants for theology training in Cameroon, wellness workshops in prisons in El Salvador, social security benefits for pastors in Peru and the church-run schools in Jordan & the Holy Land.

Global Events

The ELCIC endorses the events produced by ELCA GM including the large national Global Mission Events and the new regional Global Mission Formation Events. Details and registration forms are found on the ELCA GM web site.

Preparation for Mission

The ELCIC is a member denomination of the Canadian Churches Forum for Global Ministries. By working ecumenically with the Forum, ELCIC GM helps support the development of the Forum’s resources and programs including orientation and re-entry programs for missionaries. Through the Forum, ELCIC GM is able to offer the Mission Trip Leaders’ Training seminars and accompanying resource Sojourning, A Leader’s Guide for Short Term Mission Travel. ELCA GM also makes use of the Forums’ orientation programs and print resources.