# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S42 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 42 SYNOD REPORTS School Ministry (6) Responding Innovatively to 21st-Century Issues • Eight Lutheran schools were identified and recognized as National Exemplary Lutheran Schools by National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA). • Eleven Lutheran schools achieved U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School status in recognition of the quality Christian education program these schools provide to the communities that they serve. • Thirty-five Lutheran schools and congregations received a Strengthening Schools and Congregations (SSAC) visit with ongoing follow-up. • More than 7,000 subscribers to the school ministry e-newsletter benefited from current information relating to Lutheran schools. • The “School Mailing,” consisting of 13 monthly publications, provided support for school administrators, pastors, teachers, parents, and school board members. Children’s Ministry Stewardship Ministry • A unified vision and goals for stewardship ministry were established and implemented, including providing stewardship resources in multiple languages, assisting educational institutions in intentional stewardship education, providing training to district and congregational stewardship leaders, and partnering with LCMS entities to further the stewardship cause throughout the church body. • New stewardship resources for district leaders and congregations were provided in partnership with LCEF, and “Lifetime Plan for Giving” seminars were offered in partnership with the LCMS Foundation. • A new adaptive change process, designed to evaluate and address the stewardship culture in congregations, was implemented in the Faith Aflame: 360 Degrees process. • Eleven booklets from the Congregational Stewardship Workbook were offered online in an e-learning format to provide congregation stewardship leaders with “just in time” learning experiences in the area of Christian stewardship. • Four sessions of the video-based Pastor as Stewardship Leader series were made available online. Youth Ministry • The 2007 National LCMS Youth Gathering supported congregational youth ministry, encouraged strong connections to the national church body, supported local efforts through outreach, provided a connector for young people and their church, and built intergenerational support for teens and young adults. • The Young Adult Task Force targeted its efforts toward connecting young adults (post-high school youth through young adults into their early thirties) with local congregational and interchurch ministry opportunities. A national young adult servant event took place during the summer of 2009, and more local events are being promoted in 2010. • thESource, a free, doctrinally-reviewed, contemporary, and connected top quality online resource written by LCMS professionals was made available (www.youthesource.com). • Adult training events for lay people and professional church workers, such as the National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference and the Youth Ministry Symposium, focused on the practical application of principles that build strong youth and young adult ministries back home. “What does this mean?” and “How is this done?” were always two focus questions. • In spite of greatly reduced financial resources and staff, children’s ministry expanded through the development of various systems (action teams and other district and congregational leaders, both laity and church work professionals) and through the strategic use of technology. • Thirty-five early childhood program directors reported greater effectiveness as a result of the DIRECTed e-training program. • Approximately 60 leaders in children’s ministry reported greater effectiveness and growing confidence in their leadership roles in congregations as a result of the “Children’s Ministry Leadership Training” e-training. Family Ministry • Despite greatly reduced financial resources and staff, the Family Ministry Department expanded ministry area work and service through the development of various leadership systems (action teams and district and congregational leaders, both laity and church work professionals) and through the strategic use of technology. • In light of fiscal restraints, the department hosted a visioning summit of 20 key leaders in family ministry to guide the future direction of family ministry, a ministry critical for passing along vibrant, lifechanging faith from one generation to the next. • A “Family Ministry Blog” was developed on the LCMS Web page to address current issues in family life and society and provide opportunity for electronic interaction with constituents. • The e-publication “Ten Tips for Your Family Ministry in 2010” was distributed to over 9,000 subscribers and was posted on the LCMS Family Ministry Web page. School Ministry • More than 700 Lutheran schools have subscribed to the Lutheran School Portal, providing resources and connectivity for Lutheran schools. • Eight of the 781 Lutheran schools accredited by National Lutheran School Accreditation have been recognized as National Exemplary Lutheran Schools. • Ten components for “Lutheran Schools of Excellence” have been made available to Lutheran schools to help them become twentyfirst century schools. • School Ministry Department staff members have made themselves available to lead presentations that will introduce and equip teachers and administrators with the latest educational practices and cutting-edge technology. • More than 600 educators have participated in the “Education Technology Integration Assessment” that provides insight into the integration of technology with curriculum. Stewardship Ministry • Eleven modules of the Congregational Stewardship Workbook have been placed online in e-learning format to provide easy access to leaders and individual congregation members for “just in time” learning. • The introductory workshop for the Faith Aflame process has been made available in e-learning format online. • A Faith Aflame Web site has been established to provide free stewardship resources for congregations. New resources include four modules of the Faith Aflame process with Stewardship Learning Community discussion guides, Bible studies, devotions, a sermon 2010 Convention Workbook 2010 Convention.indb 42 4/15/10 2:38 PM