Why does the ELCA need investors?
Banks generally do not make loans to new mission congregations. When a mission congregation is ready to purchase land or begin construction of its first church building, the Mission Investment Fund is usually the only source of financing. The ELCA relies on Lutheran congregations and their members, synods and ELCA-related ministries to invest their financial resources so that the capital required to develop new mission congregations and make loans to established ELCA congregations and ELCA-related ministries is available when needed.