COMMA

The COMMA represents the Indiana-Kentucky Synod in our mission and ministry partnerships with the 16 ELCA Appalachian synods and other committed ecumenical partners to:

support, develop and encourage the gifts of Appalachia for ministry
celebrate Appalachian heritage and culture
advocate for justice for all people.
advocate for faithful stewardship of our natural resources.
network with others in Appalachia to share resources, skills, and information.
promote and encourage the growth of ministry in small town and rural settings.

Our synod is a member of ELCMA, the Evangelical Lutheran Coalition for Mission in Appalachia. ELCMA is the ELCA’s primary networking tool in the Appalachian Region. Through ELCMA we are partners in CORA, the Commission On Religion in Appalachia. CORA is the largest and most influential ecumenical organization in all of Appalachia. Our ELCA partnership synod is the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, the only ELCA synod that is ALL Appalachian.

Members of the COMMA serve as delegates to ELCMA and serve on ELCMA boards, including the ELCMA Development Committee—the funding entity for ELCMA. The COMMA sent two delegates to the ELCMA Assembly in 2004, and three delegates to ELCMA in 2005.

A COMMA member has been elected by ELCMA to serve as a Commissioner to CORA, and has been assigned to the CORA Finance Committee. The Finance Committee is overseer of CORA’s fiduciary interests and also overseer of CORA’s funds granting process. A member of the COMMA chairs the CORA Development Committee, the funding entity for CORA.

COMMA members average eight trips to serve in Appalachia each year. COMMA members have made nine trips to Appalachia in 2005. Our members are involved in ELCMA and CORA functions, and are involved in ministry strategy planning, grant writing, ministry & funding reviews, policy decisions, service projects, training workshops and providing technical support throughout the Appalachian Region. Through the COMMA, a group of 16 youth from our synod was sent to work for a week at a food bank in Tennessee.

The COMMA has membership in the ELCA’s Small Town and Rural Ministry Alliance, STaR. A COMMA member served as advisor to the ELCA Rural Desk in 2004, and wrote the grant which currently funds STaR. The COMMA was in attendance at the first STaR gathering in Newberry, N.C. in 2004, and served in a leadership capacity. The COMMA chairs one STaR Affinity Group and holds membership in several others.

Through the COMMA our synod budgets $2,400.00 in financial support to ELCMA each year, and $1,200.00 in financial support to CORA. The COMMA has provided 32 refurbished used computer systems to various Appalachia ministry sites in the last 18 months, and more than 350 since 1999. Additional financial support for both organizations comes from ELCA churchwide, the 16 Appalachian synods, other churchwide expressions (Methodists, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterians, etc.), partner congregations across the denominations, and committed private individuals.

Those serving through the COMMA include Pastor Paul Row, Pastor Jim Merkel, Randy Clarkson and Marceile and Ed Redmon. COMMA meetings are few and are conducted via telephone or the Internet. Our time, energy and available resources are focused on Appalachia, our partnerships, and the ministry we have in common with them.

Last Update: 11/30/2005

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