# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S95 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNODICAL REPORTS 95 Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to the ongoing success of higher education in the LCMS. Eugene Oesch, Chairman’ Board for Higher Education/Concordia University System William Meyer Executive Director, Board for Higher Education President, Concordia University System R5-02 Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support The Mission The mission of the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support (CMGS) is to provide opportunity for the continuing edu- cation and vocational growth of the church’s workers, to advocate and facilitate care and counsel for the church’s workers, to support them in the performance of their official duties, and to advocate and facilitate support for the personal well-being of the church’s workers and their family members. CMGS Membership The CMGS is composed of 13 voting members. Currently, 11 voting members are in office, with 2 positions vacant. Voting Members Roger Gallup (Chair and Parish Pastor Representative) William Dunk (Corresponding Secretary and Commissioned Min- ister Representative) Herbert Mueller (Vice Chair, District President, Council of Presi- dents’ Representative) Margaret Hinchey (Commissioned Minister Representative) Quentin Poulson (Parish Pastor Representative) Richard Koehneke (Parish Pastor Representative) Elaine Sipe (College Representative) Dan Gard (Seminary Representative) David Peter (Seminary Representative) Deborah Esala (Pastor’s Spouse Representative) Lois Peacock (Layperson Representative) Staff Bruce Hartung (Executive Director) Judy Voelz (Manager, Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Sup- port and Special Projects) Sheila Soucy (Coordinator) What A Way The CMGS is pleased to be one of the three LCMS groups (along with Concordia Publishing House and the Board for Higher Education) providing leadership to the development of the What A Way initiative. The focus of What A Way is “to rebuild active re- cruitment and retention of church workers as an integrated part of the LCMS culture and lifestyle at the local congregational level.” What A Way has three foci: (1) The Road Ahead ... geared to- ward anyone who is considering a profession in the church; (2) Lead the Way ... geared toward anyone who knows a potential church worker or a worker currently serving—likely practically everyone in our congregations; and (3) On the Road ... geared toward everyone who serves Christ in a church vocation in His church. A DVD introducing the Web site will be available at the LCMS convention and at the Youth Gathering. Important to note is the intentional and continuing pairing of re- cruitment and retention opportunities and issues. The philosophy of What A Way is that it is not appropriate for the LCMS to recruit without attending to questions of how workers are supported and given opportunities for professional and vocational growth. We be- lieve that this approach is, if not unique, at least uncommon in the church at large. It does reflect, however, that the best recruiters are workers, parents, and others in the community of faith, and that the most energized and satisfied workers are going to be more positive role models and more effective and helpful workers. Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support The goal of the Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support (PALS) initiative is to assist newly placed pastors in the application of their learning that ministry might be faithful, competent, and joy- ful; to assist pastors in the development of their knowledge, skills, and person in relationship to those they serve in the specific context of their ministries; and to assist and support both pastors and their wives in the transition from life in the seminary to life in the parish context. PALS is a synodical initiative (1998 Res. 5-02; 1995 Res. 5-09A). Desired Outcomes of the PALS Initiative ¢ Pastors whose personal, spiritual, and professional formation is regularly fostered and enhanced. ¢ Pastors and wives who are helped to make a successful transition from seminary life to parish ministry. ¢ Pastors and wives who do not experience the sense of isolation that often accompanies the transition from seminary life to parish ministry. e Pastors whose ministries are more readily valued and accepted by their congregations. ¢ Congregation-pastor relationships that are positive and joyful and that result in extended first-call ministries. ¢ Pastors who continue to develop the necessary skills to give pos- itive and healthy leadership to their congregations. ¢ Congregations and pastors who value continuous learing as an important and ongoing ingredient of pastoral ministry. Since 1998 over 570 newly placed pastors have participated in PALS. Forty-five groups are meeting throughout the United States this year (2004) with over 260 participants. About 70 percent of new seminary graduates elect to join a PALS group. Three to 12 first- call pastors meet together on a regular basis with an experienced pastor who serves as the facilitator of the meeting. Worship, Bible study, personal sharing, reflection on ministry and its context, and topic study comprise the bulk of the group’s time together. Not to be overlooked are the collegial bonds that form among the participants during their time together. Wives are included in PALS activities either with their husbands or separately in about 70 percent of the groups. Informal and formal studies have shown that PALS makes a difference in the beginning years of ministry with the satisfaction and longevity in the first call. Further formal evaluations and re- search are being done to confirm these observations. PALS has developed over the past six years to better reflect the . needs and desires of the participants. Regular evaluations are sought from the participants to make sure that support of the new pastor and his wife are the central objective. For the past three years PALS has been partially funded by the generosity of the Districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Their contribution provides about half of the cost of PALS. The remaining costs have been provided by a generous grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. These funds will soon be ex- hausted, and other means of support are being sought. PALS facilitators who have served during the triennium and who have retired from PALS service: Richard Allsing Norwood Blanke Ronald R. Farah Carl Lilienkamp Richard Mohr James Mueller Randy Golter Mike Newman Mark Griesse Chris Ongstad David Gunderson James Russow Norman Hanan Gerald Scheperle 2004 Convention Workbook