# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S90 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 90 SYNOD REPORTS * Funds remaining from the grant were used to provide a book enti- tled, The Relationship Cure, to all of the principals of LCMS schools. — Continuing Education—remains a vital component in the pursuit of the proclamation of the “One Message: Christ.” A great number of LCMS professional ministers are participating in “Contin- uing Education” at many different levels. The CMGS is working with the Board for Pastoral Education and other departments to promote development of an individual “Vocational Learning Plan” by every professional minister. Ideally, this would involve concepts from 1, our doctrine of vocation; 2. insights from the worlds of vocational/career/education theory; 3. basic theory and best practices of adult education; and 4. the applicable concepts from current theories regarding “learning phases.” More can be learned about the importance of continuing education for church workers through essays on the topic at cmgs.lcms.org. Here you’ll also find the form for developing an in- dividual Professional Growth Pian. It’s an instrument offered to help church workers serve the Lord faithfully, competently, and joyfully. Looking to the Future Targets for the future have been identified in this report along with the discussion of each action team, but two additional pilot projects are worthy of specific attention. — Equipping Congregations for Their Role with First-Call Pastors—The CMGS is pursuing opportunities to work with the Partners In Caring arm of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Inc., and the LCMS Nebraska District, as they develop techniques for improving transition to ministry. The desire is to further equip Nebraska congregations receiving “first-call” pastors for their unique role in the inauguration of healthy pastoral careers. Re- sources provided to congregational leaders will include a resource manual and Bible Study discussing the challenges and opportuni- ties facing “first-call” pastors and the congregations they serve, a conference at which they will discuss expectations, learn commu- nication skills and network with other lay leaders and district/ Synod officials, and ongoing consultation. — Our Church Workers and Their Families: Enhancing Vo- cational Development and Personal Well-Being— This is the name of the pilot project being pursued in the Southern District (with po- tential in one or two other districts). The purpose of this pilot min- istry (projected to begin in November 2007) is to enhance the provision of vocational development and personal well-being services to church workers and their families. The project activities are carried forth through the recruiting and equipping of regional vocational “self-directed work teams” that will develop pertinent initiatives for the support of church workers and their families. Through such re- gional self-directed work teams, vocational needs are identified, effi- cient models of support services are developed, unique resource partnerships are created, and essential support services are better pro- vided. The project serves to better leverage the creativity and resource potential across the church, the communities, and families, in facili- tating the fullness of life obtained through Jesus Christ, as unique models of excellence are developed and implemented. Final Note This report identifies many programs, initiatives, and projects, with proposals for still more in the cause of ministerial growth and support. The efforts are primarily for one reason, namely so that the “One Message: Christ’s Love” may be proclaimed. Of course, we love and care for individual people who serve as professional ministers. That’s what Christians do, but as a church body, we are about the goal to proclaim Christ’s love, and the condition of well- ness among professional ministers impacts that proclamation. 2007 Convention Workbook If we are truly concerned about ministerial wellness, and, addi- tionally, the condition of wellness in the body of Christ, we’re going to have to start paying attention to the health of the relation- ships. I’m speaking about the relationships among professional ministers, and between professional ministers and the lay leader- ship of congregations. The condition of these relationships will have a definite impact on our proclamation of the “One Message: Christ’s Love.” Some of the studies presented above identified the prevalence of conflict in the parish lives of those ministers who left parish positions. Conflict among members of the body of Christ does not bear appropriate witness to Him who is the Resurrection and the Life, and adversarial environments do not tend to produce an urge to invite another to “Come and See” (John 1:46). My prayer is that God will continue to bless the efforts of every- one involved in any way with Ministerial Growth and Support, and that He would particularly bless us as we pursue an environment in our church body of “Relational Vitality” experienced in the spir- itual wholeness, mental vigor, and exuberant strength of face-to- face relationships characterized by mutual trust, kindness, and loyalty; people in such relationships disapproving of and shedding angry, arrogant, rude, and self-seeking, unforgiving behavior. ; Herbert C. Mueller Jr., Chairman David A. Muench, Executive Director Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support— Convention Report LCMS Convention 2007 Exhibit A Common Threads in the Three Studies of Parish Professionals Who Left Parish Ministry 1. Major conflict in their last congregation was cited by 30-40% of each sample and accounted for most of the involuntary termi- nations Percentage of Respondents Citing “Major Conflict” in Last Congregation Served Pastors (2002) 42 Teachers (2003) 33 DCEs (2004) 29 (The top two areas of conflict commonly cited were “pastoral lead- ership style” and “finances.”’) 2. A variety of stressors, including boundary issues, were com- mon to all three samples, though more pronounced for teachers because of gender and family situations Percentage of Each Sample Responding .. . Pastors Teachers DCEs Experienced stress because of the challenges they faced in that congregation/school. 57 59 61 Often felt lonely/isolated in their work. 57 37 43 Felt their work in the congregation often did not permit them adequate time with their family. 35 56 31