# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S377 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) PARISH SERVICES 377 thirty-six and one-tenth percent (36.1%) over the 6-year period to $210,925. The budget allocation in the current year for youth ministry is seven-tenths of one percent (0.7%) of the Synod’s budget for 1975. This allocation represents a reduction of seventeen and seven-tenths percent (17.7%) from 1974. We believe that budget allocations reflect the Synod’s priorities. We believe the Synod needs to take a strong stand and give a firm commitment to the youth of our church. The goals and purposes of youth ministry have been spelled out by our Lord Himself. ‘Share the Good News of Jesus Christ and equip people for service in God’s kingdom.” The mandate is clear! Our Lord Himself is at work in a care ministry to His world. He brings the world the promise of His continued love and for- giveness, the same love He demonstrated to Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and to you and me. He invites those who share that promise to join Him in being and proclaiming that Good News to the world. Adults are Christ’s promise to youth, and youth are His promise to adults. Together we are His promise of hope to a hope-hungry world. Recommendation 1: To Provide Adequate Funds for Youth Ministry WHEREAS, The Lord of the church in the past has blessed The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod with people who had a strong commitment to youth ministry; and WHEREAS, The research reported on in Bridging the Gap and Five Cries of Youth has demonstrated that a ministry with youth requires clear communication of the Gospel, necessitates equipping youth for faithful service to God, and requires settings where youth can demonstrate the mission of the church in word and life; and WHEREAS, Funding for youth ministry in the Synod amounted to $330,034 in 1968 and has declined steadily to $210,925 in 1974 (36.1% decline —see table) and to $184,955 projected for 1975: and EXPENDITURES —- BOARD OF YOUTH MINISTRY 1968 __________ $330,034 (1.09%) | 1972 _ $220,859 (0.89%) 1969 273,263 (1.08%) 1973 229,300 (0.87%) 1970 266,141 (0.99%) = 1974 210,925 (0.80%) 1971 _. 229,692 (0.99%) 1975 184,955 (0.71%) Figures in parentheses indicate percent of total synodical expendi- tures for each year —a decline each year. WHEREAS, For the same period of time the Synod’s budget has declined only 10.7%, from $28,950,000 in 1968 to $25,851,000 in 1974; and WHEREAS, This indicates that youth ministry is a declining priority for the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod assembled in convention in Ana- heim affirm a strong commitment to youth ministry and indicate to the Board of Directors of the Synod that youth ministry should have a high priority; and be it further Resolved, That the Board of Directors be instructed to pro- vide financial resources for youth ministry in line with the priority that the Synod places on youth ministry. Recommendation 2: To Encourage the Development of Leadership Teams for Youth Ministry WHEREAS, Leading young people in their ministry is a serious and many-faceted responsibility; and WHEREAS, A team of people working together can both supplement and support one another; and WHEREAS, A team of youth and adults working together as leaders in youth ministry can model the Christian mutuality desired in the church; therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod urge all congregations to select five to eight qualified persons, approximately half youth and half adults, to provide leadership for the young people of the congregation; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod encourage all congregations to make use of the growth opportunities provided by the Districts and the Synod and make available the necessary financial assistance to enable these leadership people to participate in at least one leadership training event each year. Recommendation 3: To Encourage the Congregations of the Synod to Provide Opportunities for Leadership Develop- ment at the Local Level WHEREAS. It is each congregation's responsibility to provide orientation and ongoing help to volunteers who agree to serve the Lord as leaders in youth ministry; and WHEREAS, All youth leaders are in need of orientation and in-service training, and synodical and District programs cannot possibly reach more than a small percentage. and WHEREAS. Helps for providing local leadership development are available (i. e., “Lead Out,’ a multimedia kit for developing adult leaders for youth ministry); therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod encourage all congregations to provide orientation and in-service training for adults and young people who are leaders or who have agreed to become leaders in youth ministry; and be it further Resolved. That the Synod recommend “Lead Out,” available from Concordia Publishing House, as a useful tool for this purpose. Recommendation 4: To Provide “Youth Effectiveness Train- ing” for Youth and Young Adults WHEREAS. Effective communication is a key for living out our life of love in Jesus Christ: and WHEREAS, Young people are in need of skills for effective communication with their family and friends; and WHEREAS, “Parent and Teacher Effectiveness Training for Lutherans” has shown itself to be a viable model for increasing skills for effective communication for parents, teachers, and leaders in our Synod; therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod request the Board of Youth Ministry in cooperation with the Board of Parish Education to adapt this model for use with young people (high school age and young adults); and be it further Resolved. That our congregations and schools be encouraged to make ‘“‘Youth Effectiveness Training" available to the young people in our Synod. Recommendation 5: To Help Young Adults in the Church Find Meaning WHEREAS, There are many young adults who are single and involved in meaningful occupations in the membership of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (350,000 is a rea- sonable estimate); and WHEREAS, The patterns used in the church frequently cause single persons to feel unneeded and even unwanted; and WHEREAS. Many of these young adults are attempting to live out a Christian commitment in whatever their situation might be in family, community, or parish; therefore be it Resolved. That the parishes of The Lutheran Church-—Mis- souri Synod be encouraged to gather information regarding the needs of single young adults in their parish and together with young adults develop ways to minister to these needs: and be it further Resolved. That the parishes of the Synod encourage young adults to discover meaningful ways to be in ministry within the church (i. e., young adult groups, church choirs, educational and volunteer agencies of the church, the International Lu- theran Young Adults — Missouri Synod). Recommendation 6: To Provide a Program for Developing the Christian Witness Among Youth (Gospel Communication Clinic) WHEREAS, The Synod in this convention has chosen to em- phasize and encourage personal witnessing: and WHEREAS, A program identified as Gospel Communication Clinic has been developed and field-tested: and WHEREAS, The Board of Youth Ministry and the Board for Evangelism support the Gospel Communication Clinic as an