English Section

About this blog on Sustainability of the church     

The member churches of the Lutheran World Federation in Latin America have undertaken a joint process aimed at strengthening and deepening the sustainability of their churches in the region. Understood as a broad and multi-faceted concept, sustainability is not only defined as an administrative and economic issue, but also includes everything related to the identity of the church, its mission, forms of organization and ways of working    

The present blog seeks to serve as a platform for sharing resources as well as a space for dialogue and personal inspiration. The categories (at right) allow access to documents and materials, as well as to the forum.     

The blog is administered by the Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean in the Lutheran World Federation’s Department of Mission and Development (based in Geneva, Switzerland). The FLM thanks everyone who offers their materials and allow access to them through this tool.    

Have a fruitful visit and … please write to us!     

The English version of the documents produced in the Sustainablity Program:  

 

The document that provides the basis and spirit of the Sustainability Program is  Trusting in the Future ENG. It sets out the conceptual framework and strategies of the Program    

The document “Sustainability Program: Where are we? Where are we going?  Stewardship awareness and education for common witness and sustainability”, describes the context in which the Lutheran churches in Latin America and the Caribbean are making their contribution to the mission of God and also a contribution to the world Lutheran communion Sustainability Program-Where we are     

In Casting_the_Nets_in_Deeper_Waters_IECLB , Dr. Paulo Butzke, a member of the Core Group of the Sustainability Program, encourages the churches that seek a vision for and perspectives on the future.    

Sustainability Program of the Lutheran churches in Latin America, members of the Lutheran World Federation, has run since late 2007. The following presentation is a review that shows in broad terms what it does, where it is now, and where it is headed Sustainability Program at a glance 

In the following chart we offer some sociological parameters to identify the level of sustainability in third sector organizations. Originally developed by the Brazilian sociologist Domingos Armani, the parameters presented here correspond to the work of Brazilian theologian Dr. Paulo Butzke (IECLB). The center column (expansion of the concept) was developed by architect Gustavo Driau (IELU). The right column is empty. We would encourage the councils and directorates, both local and national, to begin writing in this column. Once filled in, the community, parish or church can participatively analyze its own position with respect to these parameters Parameters for institutional development and sutainability   

  

Sustainability in the Christian community: How is the concept of sustainability defined from an ecclesiastical reading? What are the marks that define the concept of sustainability and sustainable development within the Body of Christ? To what extent do these marks contradict the parameters conceived around economic criteria or based in neoliberal logic of development? Reverend Dr. Rafael Malpica Padilla, Director of Global Mission of the ELCA offers some points for reflection. To read his presentation, click on: Sustainability in the Christian Community R. Malpica P. 

Click on the following link:  Participative Strategic planning to discover the marks of a strategic planning process in the church.   The process not only has greater options to lead to a more solid projection of the church, but also does so maintaining the coherence and specificity of the church. The presentation was developed by the deaconess María Elena Parras

Below this heading we offer the necessary steps for a participative planning process in a concise form for the church setting (parish, congregation, or community).  The steps themselves begin after the introduction (slides 1-8). Step-by-step  

 

The Synod of the Valley of Itajaí of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) has developed this from many years working in strategic planning processes in parishes and communities. How does a process of this type come to pass and what are its stages?    Guide for a Parish Strategic Plan     

 

Planning and Dreaming are necessary-in the church too! “For ships without a clear destination, there exist no good winds.” This popular saying, that has its origin in the centuries of Dutch sailing expeditions, clearly expresses the importance of being familiar with the destination towards which one is trying to arrive. Only this clarity will help to take advantage of all of the factors that might be favorable to the course while avoiding the others that pose a threat. In a short text titled and accessible below the link Planning is necessary also in the church Rev. Dr. Paulo Butzke gives Biblical and theological tips to encourage the church to dream and plan its institutional course

 From the very beginning of the program, the churches have been working on participatory planning at a local level through the work of the leaders of the churches. The following document is a synthesis of those processes, achievements, and challenges The Churches Work on Sustainability_Chart English 

Inside the methodology of fundraising, there is a special emphasis on the creation of links as the basis for fundraising. Ms. Hille Richers of the Office for Congregational Development and Fundraising in the Congregation of Duren (Germany) offers important tips for deepening this aspect of the creation of links. The presentation, originally written for the German congregation, identifies a series of valid principles which transcend the original context: Friendraising 

 

LWF Sustainability Process News    



 The translations from Spanish to English on this page are the contributions of Chris Jarvis (2009) and Emily Singleton (2010), volunteers in the Young Adults in Global Mission Program supported by Global Mission- ELCA