LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 303

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284 PARISH SERVICES

Some adults may not realize that they are responsible for
their own learning. They need help in accepting the fact that no
one can learn for them. On the other hand, they are not alonein
their learning. Their fellow Christians support them as they
learn what they need to know. Then they will reciprocate.
Joined with their fellow inquirers they can learn to recognize
the issues they face and struggle together to put their faith into

action. What’s the key to it all? Mutual personal involvement
in answering the real questions of their lives in the light of
God’s Word.

The Board of Parish Education has prepared studies on the
books of the Bible and on a variety of topics of current interest
so that local classes will have ample resources upon which to
draw for their programs of adult growth.

BIBLE CLASSES: 1973—79

Number of Bihle Classes

Sunday Weekday Total
1973 2... eee 11,729 12,503 24,232
1974 2... ee 14,103 14,372 28,475
1973 vee 14,345 13,382 27,727
1976 0... eee 11,565 14,094 25,659
W977 oe 14,929 13,364 28,293
1978 wo. eee 13,376 13,627 27,003
1979 wee 13,346 13,748 27,094
Recommendation

The Board of Parish Education encourages the Synod to
work toward updating the wording of the 1943 translation of
the Enchiridion (Luther’s Small Catechism).

Maynard H. Brandt, Chairman
Victor A. Constien, Executive Secretary

7-02

Report of Board of Youth Ministry

Youth ministry in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
continues to bea vibrant and exciting avenue of sharing God’s
love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ with young people
and adults. Ministry with, by, and to young people is an
ongoing part of the total ministry of our Synod. The Lord
continues to bless and guide youth and adults who are using
their gifts and talents in this aspect of the ministry of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Four major areas of concern and challenge face the local
parish that is serious about youth ministry in the 1980s. First,
there is a strong need for both adults and youth, professional
workers and laypersons, to see young people as a total part of
the local parish, interested and able to be involved in the
ongoing ministry of God’s people. Youth need to be seen as
God’s people right now, with gifts to be shared with others and
needs to be met by others. No longer can the parish segment
“youth” into a group and isolate them from the regular
ministry of the parish.

Second, adults in our parishes need to become more aware
and better equipped to serve as youth advocates. Professional
church workers and laypersons need to be helped to speak out
for youth, involve youth in specific ministry projects, and
provide ways for youth to realize their importance as God’s
forgiven and redeemed people.

Third, parishes need to continue to provide many opportun-
ities for youth and adults to be in ministry together, working
side by side. This is happening on local committees, in
evangelism calling, in voters’ meetings, in worship planning,
and in community involvement. Youth and adults need each
other as they witness their faith to each other and move out in
love to those around them.

Finally, parishes in the 1980s need to continue to provide
avenues and settings for youth to relate to each other. This is
not to deny the need to have youth and adults working
together. It is another emphasis that needs development.
Youth needs to grow in close and trusting relationships with
their peers. Youth groups need to be strengthened in our
parishes, not at the expense of youth and adult events but
along with these other avenues of ministry. Strongly put, youth
need the peer relationships as well as positive experiences in
working with adults in the ongoing ministry of the parish.

Youth in the ’80s need to be seen not “apart from” the church

Bible Class Enrollments
Sunday
204,173
201,502
202,741
204,722
206,380
210,447
217,270

Bible Class Teachers

Weekday Total Sunday Weekday Total

104,985 309,158 13,169 10,805 23,974
116,404 317,906 13,503 11,246 24,749
122,246 324,987 13,451 10,048 23,499
133,373 338,085 13,588 10,034 23,622
140,967 347,347 14,364 9,536 23,900
145,957 356,404 14,372 9,729 24,101
146,281 363,551 14,100 9,997 24,097

but rather ‘‘a part of” the church. And not because the Synod
says it but because God in Christ Jesus has called them in their
baptism to be the church right now in their young lives as they
share, grow, forgive, and relate to those around them.

There continues to be an increase in young people’s involve-
ment in many of our parishes. Through worship, Bible study,
youth groups, and other means, young people are growing and
being nurtured in the power of God’s love and forgiveness in
Jesus Christ. A youth poll taken at the synodical youth
gathering in Fort Collins in Aug. 1980 revealed that most of the
youth who attended this gathering felt very positive about
their local parish and their relationship with their pastor.
Many young people are waiting to be encouraged and involved
in their congregation. The Lord has blessed them with gifts to
share—now it is up to adults and other young people to help
youth use these gifts in ministry.

During the past few years in our Synod a new mindset has
been increasing that sees youth ministry not as an isolated
“youth church” somewhere on the periphery of the congrega-
tion but as a regular, ongoing part of the total ministry of the
parish. This attitude toward youth ministry issummarized ina
1980 mission statement of the Board of Youth Ministry.

A Concern Regarding mo
The Proposed Synodical Restructuring

Both the board and the staff of the Board of Youth Ministry
are concerned about the possible effects that a restructuring of
the Synod will cause. With the present increase in youth
ministry services to our parishes and with new positive
directions and emphases in youth ministry, there is a strong
hesitancy to accept and support the proposed structural
changes. Some of these concerns are:

1) that one Congregational Services Board will not be able
to effectively and adequately handle the enormous responsibil-
ities under its proposed jurisdiction;

2) that the voice of young people will be lost in the new
structure;

3) that there will be a drastic loss of visibility for youth
ministry in the Synod;

4) that the new and growing Lutheran Youth Fellowship
will not be adequately maintained and supported;

5) that the Synod will lose some of the leadership abilities of
its lay and professional members under the new structure by
not having a Board of Youth Ministry;

6) that there is a danger that youth ministry will be lost
among other programs and events and that youth ministry
will not be a priority with a Congregational Services Board

that must handle all of the other necessary congregational
services and concerns.

The Board of Youth Ministry feels that the current structure
and direction of youth ministry is allowing great things to