LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 159

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District and Congregational Services
expand our efforts to the benefit of congregations of various sizes,
of ministerial size, and of location. The LCMS needs vigorously to
investigate and strategize how its parishes in all categories may best
be linked and served regardless of district membership or geographical location.
The Matter of Our Extant Generational Paradigm
A demographic segmentation of today’s generational mix will
show that sometime during the 1950s or 1960s, another generation
slipped in. This happened unannounced, and for most churches it was
unnoticed. This generational addition has changed the congregational
mix of all congregations. Generational demands are very different,
and better attention to this fact must be given by congregations in their
ministries. It is clear that when they are ignored, generations just wander elsewhere either inside or outside the Church. Compounding this
situation is that members of our oldest generations are living longer
and today are in larger numbers as a generation than at any time since
before the time of Christ. This was never anticipated and is straining
community, church, and family resources.
As background to our current generational movement, there have
been 18 immigrant-based generations born on American soil since
this country was initially colonized in the seventeenth century. For
most of our history, segments of five generations have been simultaneously on the scene. Today sizeable segments of six generations
are present. Together with their generational birth span years the six
are (a) GI (waning; 1905–1924); (b) Silent (1925–1944); (c) Boomer
(1945–1964); (d) Gen X (1965–1984); (e) Millennial (1985–2004);
and (f) Newest (gaining; 2005–2024).
The struggles for generational role and recognition are well known
and acknowledged in the secular world. This is clear by how products are being offered via print, radio, TV, and the Internet—and at
whom they are aimed. This is also obvious in the current debate about
the government’s role in medical care. Left unattended, generational
tensions and differentiations will become even more pronounced and
tension-filled.
Church bodies and congregations are not impervious to this generational jockeying. We have historically lavished most of our care
on the youngest generation at any time, under the assumption that
once raised, young people remain in the faith and within the Christian
community. There does not seem to be much evidence to fully support that assumption. That is not to suggest that we should care less
about the young. However, it does suggest that we need to simultaneously study, seek to understand, and respond more effectively to
all generations as they progress through life’s stages.
Stages? Generations move along but life stages are constant.
Generations react differently to any given stage. That fact is the
stuff from which effective ministry is shaped and is the reason why
programs that were very effective in the past can become largely ineffective a generation or two later. How long will it take us to learn
that every generation needs tailored attention? They move through
progressing stages, such as early childhood, childhood, pre- and
post-adolescence, young adulthood, family and career, peak vocational years, empty nest and pre-retirement, the go-go/slow-go/no-go
years—life stages, all. And there seem to be variations at each step.
Today too many congregations are paying scant formal attention to GI and Silent Generation members except to see them as a
mother lode for volunteer help and financial support. That’s all well
and good, but they deserve more and better. They need assistance in
working through questions of worth, service, and life direction, especially in the later years. All other extant generations need the same
kind of attention and care.
The previous paragraphs are an abbreviated context for the following overture. This overture is not offered as a finished product. It

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needs the clear-eyed attention of any who care about the church. Feel
free to improve, expand upon, or otherwise amend this overture as
your insight and experience might suggest. It is open to all who love
the LCMS and are ready to emulate our forebearers, who in their day
recurrently developed effective responses to their moments of need
and of challenge, calling for change. Give them the credit and praise
they are due ... and follow their example.
Whereas, The Scripture encourages an inter- and intra-generational concern for God’s people, especially as they cluster in Christian
communities, sometimes also known as congregations; and
Whereas, The concern is the same no matter where these clusters develop or what their generational makeup is at the moment; and
Whereas, Such concern is reflective of the mind of Christ and is
integral to His mission mandate to reach out to all; and
Whereas, Our society is in a time of generational flux and institutional crisis on a broad scale; and
Whereas, Our church body has a sizeable potential within the
ranks of its laity and professional workers for addressing a legitimate concern for both congregations and generations; therefore be it
Resolved, That our Synod President appoint a commission to study
and make recommendations relating to our changing world and to
the twenty-first-century ministry of churches of differing size; and
be it further
Resolved, That this commission especially study the scriptural
scope of and directives concerning inter-generational and intra-generational ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That this commission consider the implications of its
study as they apply to congregations of different sizes, in different
political/social/economic locales, and of different cultural makeup;
and be it further
Resolved, That this commission share its findings with congregations as soon as they are appropriate for congregational application
and consideration; and be it further
Resolved, That this commission prepare recommendations to
strengthen our church’s ministry in these two areas of concern; and
be it finally
Resolved, That as it does its work, this commission regularly
report through the Synod President to the Board of Directors and the
Council of Presidents as it prepares its findings and recommendations
for the next Synod convention.
Trinity
Roselle, IL
2-14

To Recognize Higher Things as an Asset
to Youth Ministry
Whereas, Youth ministry is key to the mission of the LCMS in
that it exists “vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word
and deed within our churches, communities, and world” (LCMS
Mission Statement); and
Whereas, Higher Things was initiated in the 1990s as a grassroots
effort by faithful members of the Synod to provide, on a yearly basis
and at minimum cost, a quality youth gathering for congregations
that desire sound Lutheran theology and historic liturgical worship
for their youth; and
Whereas, Higher Things has requested Recognized Service
Organization status from the Synod; and
Whereas, For whatever reason, fewer than 50 percent of all congregations in the Synod send youth to the Synod’s triennial national
youth gatherings, often at great cost; and
2010 Convention Workbook

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