The head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson reports that 60 new congregations were planted in 2011.

"More than half of the new starts are in "diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual communities and communities in deep poverty, because we are heeding the instruction and invitation to 'go and tell,'" he said in a report to the body which function's as the church's board of directors.

He said ELCA members were also engaged in "renewing congregations."

He cited an action of the 2011 assembly that calls "upon congregations to discern how to deepen their commitment to engagement in mission, and to proclaim the gospel more clearly, (which) is not some command-controlled mandate for which there must be compliance."

The action is an invitation on "how we more creatively and boldly proclaim the risen Christ and engage in the lives of our neighbors in lives of service."

ELCA's membership in 2010 was 4.27 million in 2010, the last year information was available. Over the past 10 years, the denomination's membership has declined from 5.13 million in 2000.

The number of congregations has remained relatively stable during that period, however. There were 10,008 congregations in 2010 and 10,816 congregations in 2000.

In 2010, the number of congregations fell by 340, and a year earlier they fell by 48.