By Deacon Aimee Elles, Bishop’s Associate Candidacy & Education, and Pastor Jen Kindsvatter, Pastor Shared Lutheran Ministry of Fayette County
We have exciting news to share! Our Synod was awarded a generous grant through the CaSTLE Project. The $20,000 grant will support lay leadership and celebrate baptismal living in our small-town and rural congregations.
CaSTLE stands for Country and Small Town Lived Ecclesiology. The grant is administered through Wartburg Theological Seminary. Wartburg received a $7.4 million Lilly Endowment grant to support and renew small-town and rural congregations and their leaders. This grant enables Wartburg to be a hub for ELCA synods to equip congregations for renewal.
So what does this mean for our synod? Our grant monies will be put to excellent use, fortifying and extending the work of our emerging Lay School. Our synod’s project encourages faithful followers of Jesus to affirm their baptismal covenant to: live among God’s faithful people, hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and strive for justice and peace in all the earth (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Affirmation of Baptism).
Many of our small-town and rural congregations are experiencing a prolonged season of pastoral transitions and vacancies. As our Synod staff works diligently to find Rostered Leaders to serve, we are also seeking creative ways to support these congregations now. This project aims to foster a theological and practical shift: moving from a model where only the ordained are “ministers” to one where every baptized member is empowered to lead based on their gifts.
Our synod’s project takes a two-pronged approach. The first prong is lay leader training focused on preaching and pastoral care. The second prong is a video series documenting baptismal living.
Through lay leader training focused on preaching and pastoral care, participants will learn from seasoned, rostered leaders and industry professionals through a combination of independent reflection, in-person gatherings, and peer cohorts. Participants will gain confidence and receive theologically sound training to equip them for practical ministry.
The training will start with a focus on pastoral care and preaching; these two focus areas meet the immediate needs to care for members and encourage faith formation. We hope to add additional focus areas in the future.
Through the video series documenting baptismal living, we will produce four to six stand-alone videos that highlight a person’s Christian vocation. The videos will be a combination of interview and live footage, following lay leaders in various vocations – teacher, rancher, electrician, etc. The videos may be used for bible study groups, midweek Lenten worship, social media, etc. We will also share these videos through synodical communication to celebrate small-town and rural ministries.
The goal of this project is to strengthen the vitality and sustainability of small town and rural congregations. These congregations make up a strong and vibrant part of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. We are grateful to Wartburg Theological Seminary and the Lilly Foundation for their forward thinking and intentional investment in our congregations.
Look for more information to come! We will officially receive grant monies in February 2026 and will swiftly get to work on implementing this exciting project.