Do I have to be an I-K Synod member to enter?
Only Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, congregations and members are eligible to enter. Each congregation must have a contact person who submits the video on behalf of the congregation.
Can I submit a group entry?
You may work as a team for either the congregation or individual category, but the video must be submitted by one person. In the congregation category, the prize will be awarded to the congregation named in the entry. In the individual category, the prize will be awarded to the person who submitted the entry.
New: Youth under18 years old may now enter the contest, but must have parents or guardians sign a release form.
What is the theme of the ELCA video contest?
The contest theme is “God’s work. Our hands: Extraordinary Grace Through Ordinary People.” How do you see God at work through the hands of the people in your life?
God’s work happens in little interactions between friends or strangers as well as in recovery efforts after a natural disaster.
Use your creativity to share a story that inspires you!
How long should my video be?
Videos must be between 30 and 90 seconds in length.
How are winners chosen?
From April 5 through April 19, 2010, anyone will be able to click on a link on the synod Web site, view the videos that will have been uploaded to YouTube, and then click on another provided link to rate all the videos entered in the contest.
If you or your congregation has entered a video, be sure to invite everyone you know to view and rate your video!
The top ten in each category (congregation and individual) will be determined by ratings. The ratings for both video categories will be forwarded to the independent judging panel. Popularity is based on a video’s rating. This is determined by the number times the video is rated and its overall score.
These videos will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will select winners based on the following criteria: creativity, ability to inspire, interpretation of theme and popularity.
The winning entries will be announced in June 2010, at the Indiana-Kentucky Synod Assembly in Covington, Ky.
How will I know if I won the contest?
We will notify the winner directly using contact information submitted with the video.
What are the contest rules and guidelines?
A full listing of rules and guidelines are available here. Important highlights include:
- All video entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on March 29, 2010.
- Entries must be 90 seconds or less in duration and in .mp4, .AVI, .MOV or .MPG format.
- Starting March 1, 2010, through March 29, participants may submit videos.
- The title of your video must include your full name (as it appears in your registration) and the format.
- All the work you enter must be original. Note: Hymns in the Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) or the Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) that are copyrighted material may not be used.
- Videos with profanity, discriminatory language or other inappropriate content will automatically be disqualified. See the official contest rules for more details.
- Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes, you can submit as many entries as you like. However, only one prize per individual or congregation will be awarded.
