St. Matthias Lutheran Church (ELCA)

I have lived most of my life in or very near to the region of our country known as Appalachia. You and I are a part of it now as we live, work, worship, and serve Christ together in the upstate of South Carolina. Over the last three days, the Evangelical Coalition for Mission in Appalachia (ELCMA) convened its 2009 Assembly at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Morristown, TN. Nicole and I, as well as Pastor Bob Kastings (mission developer at Faith, Pickens) and his wife, Laura, were in attendance as delegates from the SC Synod. 2009 marks the sixth assembly of ELCMA that I have attended, each year it being hosted by one of the 16 ELCA synods whose territory lies within Appalachia. The South Carolina Synod is slated to serve as the assembly’s host for the first time in 2013 after it makes its trek to the NW Pennsylvania Synod (Erie), the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, and Upper Susquehanna Synod (Central PA). Last year, the Upstate New York Synod welcomed the assembly to the Chautauqua Institution and its lakeside setting near Jamestown NY.

ELCMA exists to “connect and equip God people for Christ’s mission in this unique and stunningly beautiful region whose genesis was officially defined in the 1960’s (see www.arc.gov for more info about the region’s history, economics and development).

Specifically, the organization of ELCMA works to address a number of issues which affect over 23 million people in 420 counties of this 13 state region. ELCMA is distinctly Lutheran, though it works ecumenically with colleagues from the Presbyterian Church USA, United Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church, as well as numerous church agencies.

ELCMA understands its calling to:

Support the gifts inherent to the Appalachian region for ministry and to celebrate its heritage and culture.

Advocate for God’s people and natural resources in ways that demonstrate faithful stewardship.

Serve as the primary networking tool in the region connecting the ELCA congregations in the region with other ministries and resources around the country.

The organization seeks to live out its calling by equipping congregations for outreach and service into their communities and the world; advocating for justice; networking people and resources and supporting the work of Rostered Leaders, congregations, synods, regions, and church-wide units.

ELCMA has created resources for small membership congregations, which has become a staple of the Appalachian Region; it seeks to address the root causes of poverty and works to overcome the stereotypical distortions of the people and culture.

For the last two years, I have served on the SC Synod’s Ministry Team for Outreach whose portfolio includes our synod’s partnership with ELCMA. It is such a rich experience for me to network with others who serve among this incredibly diverse region, to nurture the bonds we share and to lift up the people with whom we serve. Perhaps one of the Appalachian traits I have inherited is my love of telling stories. As pastor, I remain, as always, ready to hear your stories and perhaps to spin one or two myself- just let me know when and where.

As part of the new “Extended Ministries” bulletin board in the hallway, which displays information on summer camp at Lutheridge/Lutherock; Lutheran colleges and seminaries, the ELCA World Hunger Program and the like, I have posted some notes about ELCMA and the Appalachian region for your enrichment as you strive to “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Eph 4:1)

Pastor Alan