Wartburg Theological Seminary

Wartburg Theological Seminary

The Castle Project logoThe CaSTLE Project

Grantee: Wartburg Theological Seminary
Location: Dubuque, IA
Website: thecastleproject.org
Project Contact: Ramie Bakken
Email: castle@wartburgseminary.edu

Who we serve

Our project is titled The CaSTLE (Country and Small Town Lived Ecclesiology) Project. We are partnering with ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) synods to serve the rural and small-town congregations in their care with contextualized support that equips them to live out their Christian faith in all arenas of daily life. While the majority of congregations are ELCA, we are also exploring ecumenical partnerships in these settings.

How we support rural congregations and ministry leaders

Under the theme of "instantiating a baptismal ecclesiology" — shifting from an attraction model of church to an equipping model of church — our project provides training to lay ministers, pastors, and deacons in the following ways:

  • a website that serves as a resource-sharing platform
  • synod-led training for mentor pastors and the lay ministers they accompany
  • regular webinars that deepen understanding and practice of living out our baptismal calling
  • a one-year competency-based formation program for synod-authorized ministers
  • an annual conference for subgrantee leaders
  • supporting research on diverse leaders in small-town and rural areas
  • supporting exploration and resource development for ecumenical partnerships

Castle project advisors

Partners

Our current partners are 18 ELCA synods that are receiving subgrants to contextualize the supports in rural and small-town settings that will promote this paradigm shift from an attraction model to an equipping model of being church. We are also partnering with faculty at various ELCA seminaries through resource development grants and exploring ecumenical partnerships with adjudicatory leaders who are full communion partners. Finally, we are partnering with the ELCA churchwide organization for coordinated research and resourcing.

Faith tradition

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Geographical focus

By ELCA definition: "rural" is open country/not located in a town or city and "small town" is a population of less than 10,000. We have ELCA congregations across the U.S. that fit this demographic. Our current partner synods extend from Washington state to Virginia, with a cluster of partnerships in the Upper Midwest.