Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 370
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 370

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

370 YOUNG PEOPLE’S WORK

uate the mission of the church and to join with young
people in the common task of giving powerful witness.
Such a witness requires that both adults and young
people recognize that the Holy Spirit may deal with
each generation in a unique manner as He calls all to
responsibility and to wisdom in the Lord.

The Board for Young People’s Work attempts to
assist adults in understanding and appreciating the con-
tributions which the gifts of young people can make to
the life of the church. Materials, program guides, and
publications of the Board for Young People’s Work ac-
cent the unique gift of young people and the way in
which these gifts can be utilized on District and parish
levels. Materials are not simply designed for adults
and for youth but for youth and adults in a particular
setting. The Board for Young People’s Work strongly
feels that such mutual discussion is the only way in
which the contributions of both adults and youth can
be shared and utilized. More steps will be taken to
involve both youth and adults in the same programs
(Visit, Encounter, service projects, etc.) and to empha-
size the need for a context of equipping in which adults
and youth both share.

E. To Provide Settings

Thus, if the Board for Young People’s Work is “to
provide settings for Christian youth to demonstrate the
mission of the church in word and life and for un-
claimed youth to be exposed to the call of God in the
Gospel” (7.61 e), then adults must play a key rele in
providing such settings and in assisting in the process
of interpreting “word and life.”

Young people need adults. Adults need young peo-
ple. These two axioms undergird the activities and
ministry of the Board for Young People’s Work. It is
not possible or desirable to isolate youth from adults
and from the ongoing life of the church. Adults must
involve young people, and young people must become
involved in such a way that the integrity and gifts of
vouth are affirmed.

The Board for Young People’s Work believes that
young people have the capacity and talent to serve in
many ways and in many settings. Young people can
plan special service projects. Young people can imple-
ment evangelism programs. Young people can evaluate
church programs, worship services, and other activities.

Young people can also serve in many volunteer ca-
pacities that adults either cannot or will not carry out.
Many young people volunteer for hospital work. Young
people can work with children in educational settings.
Young people can and must evangelize the high school.

The church must learn to capitalize on young peo-
ple’s willingness to serve and on their capacity for ma-
ture judgment. We must all learn to begin where young
people are already serving and to sensitize them to their
Christian vocation in those settings. Youth ministry
may begin to take new shape once we have recognized
that young people are already ministering. Young peo-
ple are in the world. God has called them to the world

to serve Him. How can adults assist young people in
fulfilling that call?

II. The Past and the Present

The previous understandings of the goals of youth
ministry have guided both the immediate past activities
and the present role of the Board for Young People’s
Work.

The transition in youth ministry, whereby the Synod
has assumed full responsibility for youth ministry and
whereby the Walther League, an auxiliary of the Synod,
has become a youth-led movement, is now complete.
The Board for Young People’s Work has retained the
services of a full-time executive secretary of youth
ministry. The board is also building a staff which can
take on the responsibilities now entrusted to the board
by the Synod. This staff will work in the areas of parish
services (Rev. Martin Steyer), District services (Mr.
Dean Dammann), adult worker training, and youth-
young adult training.

The Walther League, convened at Purdue University,
Aug. 19—23, 1968, ratified a new constitution which rad-
ically redefined the direction and administration of this
auxiliary. Committed to expressing the objectives of
the Synod and to enabling interested young people to
express their life in Christ in meaningful ways, the
Walther League will focus on such issues as world
hunger, poverty, international development, and racism.

Membership in the Walther League is open to so-
cieties affiliated with The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod and any interested youth of high school age or
older who supports the purpose of the league.

Administered by a council of 12 young people (six
elected in biennial conventions and six appointed) and
counseled by six adult trustees secured from the Wheat
Ridge Foundation Board of Directors, the Walther
League is presently engaged in “Hikes for the Hungry,”
support of volunteers in Venezuela, and various ‘“Free-
dom from Hunger Campaign” projects. Many locally
sponsored projects and services are also being carried
out.

Provisions have been made both by the Board for
Young People’s Work and the Walther League for staff
liaison and interboard dialog (cf. organizational chart).
The Board for Young People’s Work will remain in-
formed of the planning of the league, and the league
can be apprized of the plans of the Board for Young
People’s Work in the larger youth ministry of the
Synod.

While the Walther League has already initiated some
programs and projects and enlisted the participation of
many young people, the Board for Young People’s
Work presently faces the task of redefining and imple-
menting a total youth ministry in our Synod. This re-
defining and implementing has been assisted by past
programs, consultation with District youth committees,
and the needs and requests of parishes. The Board for
Young People’s Work is now on the threshold of as-
sisting the youth ministry of the Synod.