The Freed to Lead Fund was established in September 2008 to assist in the training and support of rostered leaders in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod by providing Scholarships for endorsed seminarians and Leadership Grants to rostered leaders for 1. Theological education debt, 2. Pension equity and 3. Special circumstances that create undue financial burden.

The Freed to Lead Fund was initiated with a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, which provided matching seed money to encourage churches and church members to contribute to assist rostered leaders.  Also providing matching money to this fund is the ELCA Fund for Leaders for contributions made to seminary scholarships.

According to the fund's organizing documents, "The Freed to Lead Fund is established to uphold the great gift of ministry that rostered leaders provide in service to our Lord Jesus Christ through the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  The Fund further finds value in the significant relationships that exist between rostered leaders and congregations and is therefore established to strengthen those relationships so that ministry may be enriched in ways that are unencumbered for both rostered leaders and congregations.  This Fund will provide a holistic approach to the training and support of rostered leaders for ministry in the church."

CHALLENGES IN THE CHURCH

The Lilly Endowment grant and the establishment of the Freed to Lead Fund arises out of a number of challenging factors for the church:

1. Rising costs of seminary education: The average annual tuition at an ELCA seminary is $12,000 and the typical student also incurs living expenses ranging from $15,000 to $26,000. That brings the cumulative cost of attending 3 years of seminary to a range of $70,000 to $102,000.  And many students have college debt also.

2. Rising seminary education debt, averaging $38,000 in 2006 in the ELCA. 70% of seminary students take out loans to fund their education and can anticipate monthly loan payments of $300-600 in their first calls.

3. Low income of rostered leaders in smaller churches impacts the ability of first call pastors to meet monthly payments for education debt.  (In the IK Synod, 76% of churches have 150 or less in worship.)

4. Low pension contributions as a result of low income also impacts the ability of rostered leaders to move comfortably into retirement.

5. Poor stewardship in ELCA parishes:  The average giving in the ELCA is 2% of annual income, which is far below the Biblical tithe of 10%, and thus results in less in budgets for pastoral support and training of seminarians.

6. A perception of scarcity in our church when the promise of our Lord is abundance (John 10: 10, Matt. 25:14-30).

What are pastors' responses to these challenges?  Click here to read their statements.

MEETING THE CHALLENGE

The Freed to Lead initiative will attempt to meet these challenges through a capital campaign beginning in 2009 with a goal of raising $3.5 million in new money.  Fund administrators will also be empowered to address and advocate for change to systemic issues that create the economic challenges that rostered ministers face and provide a holistic approach to the training and support of rostered leaders for ministry in the church. 

For more on the Capital Campaign or to make a contribution, contact Development Associate Joseph Skvarenina at joes@iksynod.org or call 317-253-3522 ext. 309.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For further information about the Freed to Lead Fund and initiative, contact:

The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Director, Freed to Lead Fund
Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA
tweitzel@iksynod.org
317-253-3522 ext. 350