\u201cLuther says we live in and through our neighbor,\u201d\u009d Duran explains. \u201cMost of our congregations were planted for the neighborhood.\u201d\u009d But when neighborhoods changed, congregations often resisted trans\u00c2\u00adformation. Members be\u00c2\u00adgan commuting to attend church. Then, Duran said, \u201cthe neighbors became the object of the church\u2019s ministry rather than the subject.\u201d\u009d Duran wants the neighbors to be the subject again.<\/p>\n
The church\u2019s strategy is to \u201cshut up and learn\u201d\u009d\u201d\u201dto listen and reconnect with diverse neighborhoods, in\u00c2\u00adcluding the working poor and young adults who grew up in the suburbs but are now relocating in cities. \u201cThere are so many people in our neighborhoods who are doing God\u2019s work,\u201d\u009d Duran said, \u201cbut they just don\u2019t know it yet.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The ELCA has set up a process by which men and women who have the gifts and skills for ministry but who haven\u2019t attended seminary can be full-time pastors\u201d\u201d\u201clay mission developers\u201d\u009d\u201d\u201dserving with the blessing of the community and the bishop.<\/p>\n