LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 61

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PARISH, YOUTH, AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES 61

mailed to a random sample of Synod pastors. 458 question-
naires were mailed; 400 were returned—an astonishingly high
response rate of 87%, indicative of the high degree of interest
respondents had in the matter.

Results of the survey were thoroughly discussed in the July
1982 BPS meeting, and were also submitted to the Department
of Research and Planning for evaluation. In the October 1982
BPS meeting, board members further discussed the survey
results. In the January 1983 meeting, the Board for Parish
Services adopted the recommendation which appears at the
conclusion of this report.

XIII. Toward the Future

The future of the Synod and its congregations is as bright as
the promises of God. God will sustain His people by His grace
as they work together in programs of worship, witness, nurture,
service and fellowship. The task of the Synod’s Board for
Parish Services is to assist congregations through training
events and media resources to carry out their ministry of the
Word of God so that more and more people at all age levels are
restored to life in all its fullness through faith in Jesus Christ.

Wecherish the privilege of working with District and parish
leaders as we pursue together that God-given goal.

Recommendations
Catechism Revision

The Synod’s 1981 convention Resolution 7-02 directed the
Board of Parish Education (Parish Services) ‘‘to study the
updating of the Enchiridion and the exposition of the 1943
edition of Luther’s Small Catechism (commonly known as the
“blue catechism”) and to ‘present the results of this study with
a plan of action to the next convention of the Synod.”

In response to the resolution, the board consulted with the
Synod’s Department of Research and Planning in developing a
survey instrument and in interpreting the results obtained.
The board surveyed a random sample of 10% of the parish
pastors of the Synod to determine their use of the 1943 edition
and their expressed need for a revision. 458 questionnaires
were mailed; 400 were returned—an astonishingly high re-
sponse rate of 87%, indicative of the high degree of interest
respondents had in the matter.

On the basis of its study, the board makes the following
recommendation to the Synod:

WHEREAS, Only 24% of respondents feel the need for a new
translation of the Enchiridion and only 46% call for one or two
new Expositions (which is in both cases a minority); and

WHEREAS, The survey reveals a lack of unanimity on the
extent and nature of any proposed revision of Enchiridion or
Exposition on the part of those who seek a revision; which lack
of unanimity would negatively affect the acceptance by some
of ANY revision made; and thus lead to even less uniformity in
use of Enchiridions and Expositions (three Expositions rather
than the current two would be in use among the congregations
of the Synod), thereby serving to further fracture rather than
unite educational programs using the catechism; and

WHEREAS, Lutheran Worship contains the 1943 translation
of Luther’s catechism; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Parish Services abstain from
developing any new or revised translation of the Enchiridion
or Exposition at this time; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Parish Services remain open
and sensitive to the needs of the church in regard to such a
revision.

The Board for Parish Services is also submitting two
additional overtures found elsewhere in this Workbook:
1. To Re-insert in Handbook Emphasis on Lutheran Ele-
mentary and Secondary Schools
2. To Permit Directors of Christian Education to Be Eligible
for Synodical Membership
Raymond A. Mueller, Chairman
Victor A. Constien, Executive Secretary

2-02

Report of Board for Youth Services

Youth ministry within The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod is youth and adults working together to share the love
and forgiveness of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This
has been the overall thrust and direction of the Board for Youth
Services within the past two years. The Lord continues to bless
greatly the efforts of the LCMS as we work together to helpand
enable youth and adults to proclaim their faith and joy.

The Board for Youth Services congratulates the LCMS in
convention in selecting youth ministry as one of its emphases
for the 1983—84 year. “The Year of Youth Ministry” will make
parishes and Districts especially aware of the needs and joys of
working with and among young people. Within this report are
a number of suggestions to parishes as the Synod begins its
emphasis of youth ministry at the synodical convention. It
should be noted that this is an emphasis on youth ministry

rather than on youth. The board and staff wish to affirm and__

highlight youth ministry, that is, youth and adults working
together as partners in the Gospel in their congregation. This
emphasis should not be seen as the way to overemphasize
youth at the expense of other age groups. Rather, it is an
attempt to help adult leaders become more aware of the gifts
that youth are to the church of today. It is our hope and prayer
that this emphasis will help to involve youth in the total,
ongoing work of their parish rather than detaching them from
it. This is done by involving youth in committee and board
work, by helping them to be more aware of the needs in their
parish and community to which they can direct their gifts, and
in general, by allowing vouth to be involved in the mission and
ministry of the church right along with the rest of the members.
This emphasis is not an attempt to pull them “apart” from
their parish, but rather to affirm them as baptized members in
their local congregations.

There have been a number of youth ministry directions and ~ |

affirmations developed over the past two years. They include
the following: —_

1. Youth ministry is seen as youth and adults involved in

the mission and ministry of the church.

2. Youth are members of the church now as well as the
church of the future.

. Youth have many gifts that can be shared with youth
and adults around them.

. Youth need to be seen as individuals rather than as
members of groups.

. Ministry with youth is broader than a youth group.

. Congregations need to be encouraged to develop a youth
ministry committee or board that is responsible for the
youth ministry of its parish.

7. Youth ministry is not the work of the pastor and other
staff persons alone but is the responsibility of the entire
congregation.

8. Youth groups need clearly stated purposes and goals
and can be helped greatly by affiliating with Lutheran
Youth Fellowship.

9. Adults need to play a significant role in the development
and guidance of youth ministry in a parish.

10. Youth ministry is grounded in Word and Sacrament.

11. Parish youth ministry needs to help young people
clarify Christian values.

12. Youth ministry needs to help young people share their
faith and grow in their ability to proclaim this faith to
others around them.

13. Young people need avenues and settings to enable them
to grow in their faith and proclaim this faith to others.

14. Adults working with youth need to be equipped and
trained by their parishes in the youth ministry tasks
they are called to do.

15. Professional church workers need to be equipped for the
task of equipping others in youth ministry.

16. Junior high youth, high school youth, and young adults
need to be integrated into the total ministry of their
parish rather than segregated according to their own
age groupings.

17. Parents need to be helped and affirmed in their relation-
ships with their own youngsters.

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