“Specialized ministries among all people embody grace and hope to others in need, their families and the staff who serve them. This is part of the church’s outreach ministry in and for the world, seeking to foster spiritual wholeness that is integrated into the total mission of the church.” [source] More specifically, specialized ministry is performed by ELCA-rostered leaders in institutional settings considered outside “traditional” church contexts. Whether Word and Sacrament or Word and Service, specialized ministry is performed under call by the Synod or Church Council.
Whether as chaplains, campus ministers, or in institutional roles, these leaders are adept at working in diverse environments. They are skilled in navigating ecumenical, inter-religious, and pluralistic settings, where people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs come together. Their ministry is grounded in a mandate to “care for all” whether through pastoral care and counseling, providing Lutheran worship, rites, and rituals, or advocating for the emotional and spiritual well-being of others. This advocacy can also take on a prophetic form, raising key ethical and justice issues within the specialized ministry setting.
Rostered leaders often possess specific skills and expertise that make them effective ministers in their specialized ministry setting. Additionally, these settings often train rostered leaders with additional skills to benefit the organization and the church. Those serving in specialized ministry are a vital part of the Synod’s ecosystem of leadership, bringing important insights and learning to congregations and other rostered leaders serving in “traditional” roles to enhance their ministries inside and outside the congregational boundaries. In some arrangements, rostered leaders may serve “bi-vocationally” in a congregational and specialized ministry setting, further underscoring their importance in sharing God’s love with people in the world today!
Nearly 20% of the active rostered leaders currently serving in the Minneapolis Area Synod are serving in Specialized Ministry Calls. These calls vary from local and abroad, military to hospitals, new church starts to organizations they started, and everything in between. Before a rostered leader enters into a specialized ministry call, they are required to serve in a church for three years. Learn more about the specialized ministry calls in our synod.
