Outreach

The VISION: Empower the ELCA to journey together to proclaim the Good News in mission development to be a multicultural church.

Partnership Support Grants
The Oregon Synod Outreach Team is now receiving inquiries and applications for Partnership Support Grants from the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA. The grants are intended to help congregations develop 'outreach' that will grow the kingdom of God. Information about specific grant categories, qualifications, and applications are available from Pastor Harvey Blomberg, Mission Director. The deadline is January 31, 2008. Contact Pastor Harvey Blomberg at blomberg@spelca.org or 800-275-3522. Questions can also be directed to Pastor Donna Herzfeldt-Kamprath at donnalhk@aol.com or 541-884-6414.

Current Partnership Support Grant Recipients:
Community of ChristChurch, Hillsboro St. Paul, Portland Portland Taiwanese, Beaverton Current Mission Development Grant Recipients: St. Matthew's Mission, Central Point Heavenly Peace, Portland Grace Mission, Portland Soul Cafe, Hood River Good Spirit Mission, Portland

Proposal Latino Ministries Strategy for Region 1 2005 - 2010
(click here to download)

2006 Resolution #6
Title: Growing as a Multicultural Church
Origin/Sponsors: Oregon Synod Outreach Team: the Rev. Donna Herzfeldt-Kamprath, Ms. Kathy Lairson, Ms. Susan Doyle, Mr. Paul Snider, Ms. Georgine Thompson, the Rev. Frank Brocker, the Rev. Lou Schneider, the Rev. Don Parsons, Mr. David Alley, Ms. Debby Chenoweth; Oregon Trail Cluster: the Rev. Scott Dunfee, the Rev. Craig Johnson, the Rev. Phil Yokers, the Rev. John Eide, the Rev. Nicholas Doversberger, the Rev. Dayle Askey, the Rev. Jana Adams, the Rev. Kim Frenz, the Rev. Aimee Bruno, the Rev. Charles Mantey, the Rev. John Reutter-Harrah, the Rev. Barry Rogge, the Rev. James Flachsbart, the Rev. Doug Adams; the Rev. Polo Garcia, Ms. Marta Garcia, the Rev. Matthew Eagan, the Rev. Kurt Rizer, and the Rev. Tom Hiller

Whereas Jesus began his ministry in Mark 1:14-15 proclaiming the “new reign of God’s mercy and justice manifest and expressed for and among all peoples”; and the Great Commission of Matthew 28 calls the church to go and make disciples among all nations, including the diversity of peoples in those nations; and

Whereas discipleship is a continuing process to follow where the living Christ leads the church in changing neighborhoods and among wonderfully diverse peoples; and

Whereas the Latino leadership and partners* of Region 1 have developed a “Latino Ministries Strategy for Region 1 2005-2010” with the vision to “empower the ELCA to journey together to proclaim the Good News in mission development to be a multicultural church”; and

Whereas the resolution, “Becoming a Multicultural Church,” was passed at the 2005 Oregon Synod Assembly to affirm the work of the Latino leaders and allies, and to present the “Proposal for Latino Ministries Strategy for Region 1 2005-2010 to the congregations of the Oregon synod for their study and possible adoption at the 2006 Oregon Synod Assembly; and

Whereas the strategy, distributed at the 2005 Oregon Synod Assembly**, has been now available for study and discussion for one year; and

Whereas the strategy is the beginning of a process of continued engagement, relationship building, change, and growth within the church and its neighbors; and

Whereas the congregations of the Oregon Synod publicly support ministry to all their neighbors;

Therefore be it resolved that the Oregon Synod adopt “Latino Ministries Strategy for Region 1 2005-2010” and commit itself publicly to fulfilling the mission objectives of the strategy; and

Be it further resolved that the Oregon Synod Council and Oregon Synod Outreach Ministry Team will strive to motivate all congregations to participate in the work of the strategy; and

Be it further resolved that the Oregon Synod Outreach Ministry Team report to the Oregon Synod assemblies in 2008 and 2010 on the progress of achieving the objectives.*Partners include the outreach staff of Region 1, synodical outreach committees, and synodical staff.

2005 RESOLUTION #12 (pdf to download)
Relating to the Oregon Synod Outreach Ministry Title: Becoming a Multicultural ChurchOrigin/Sponsors: Oregon Synod Outreach Ministry Team: Pr. Donna Herzfeldt-Kamprath, Kathy Lairson, Pr. Lou Schneider, Susan Doyle, Pr. Ron Gregg, Pr. Frank Brocker, Georgine Thompson, Paul Snider, Pr. Don Parsons; Other interested supporters: Pr. Polo Garcia, Marta Garcia, Pr. Scott J. Dunfee (Dean of the Oregon Trail Cluster), Pr. John Reutter-Harrah

Whereas in God’s good creation, there is great human diversity; and

Whereas the mission of the church is to reach out to all people with the Gospel; and

Whereas the Latino population is the fastest growing ethnic group in Oregon; and

Whereas Casa de Sion in Woodburn, Oregon, a congregation of the Oregon Synod, is the longest-term Latino ministry in Region 1, begun more than 20 years ago by Polo and Marta Garcia; and

Whereas the Oregon Synod has been committed to Latino Outreach through the former Latino Outreach Task Force; and

Whereas that commitment has grown to participation in the Region 1 Latino Outreach Strategy Team; and

Whereas the Latino leaders in Region 1 have drafted a Latino Ministry Strategy for Region 1, 2005-2010 with the vision to: “Empower the ELCA to journey together to proclaim the Good News in mission development to be a multicultural church”;

Therefore be it resolved that the Oregon Synod accepts and affirms the work of the Latino leadership of Region 1 which resulted in the Proposal for Latino Ministry for Region 1, 2005-2010; and

Be it further resolved that the Oregon Synod presents this proposal to all congregations of the synod for review by their church councils and outreach committees during the next year, so that at the 2006 synod assembly it will be possible for the Oregon Synod to embrace the strategy and make public commitment to fulfilling the mission objectives.