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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 44

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
ters, Elementary Schools, and High Schools.” Leadership training events are held annually for educators
and administrators serving in Lutheran schools. No
report required.
••

Resolution 8–03A—“To Support the Quality and
Sustainability of Lutheran Schools through the
Work of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Lutheran
Schools.” The twenty-member Blue Ribbon Committee on Lutheran Schools met throughout the triennium to study the critical issues impacting Lutheran
schools. See report in Officer, Board, Commission,
and Task Force Reports of the Convention Workbook.

••

Resolution 8–04—“To preserve the Religious Freedom of Our Parochial Schools.” The work is ongoing
with districts to provide the Protecting Your Ministry
document and in-service opportunities for educators.
No report required.

Lutheran Schools continue to be on the forefront in reaching out to serve their communities and operate with the purpose of helping students grow in knowledge and in their love
of Jesus Christ while receiving an excellent Christian education.
Lutheran schools nurture the faith in children, preparing and
equipping them for a life of service in this world and for eternity.

Youth Ministry—Rev. Mark Kiessling,
Director
At the very end of the last triennium, LCMS Youth Ministry hosted the 13th LCMS Youth Gathering, In Christ Alone,
in New Orleans, Louisiana. The five-day event provided opportunities to learn more about the Lutheran Christian faith
along with emphasis on current and future vocational roles. The
days were filled with workshop sessions, large-group events, servant events, worship, and learning experiences and fellowship
opportunities. Over 22,000 youth and adults from over 1,500
LCMS congregations and 12 countries participated. In addition, roughly 2,000 program planners, volunteers, exhibitors,
speakers, and special guests provided planning and support.
The event also showcased Concordia University System institutions, LCMS ministries, Recognized Service Organizations, and
other LCMS-related ministries.
On July 11–15, 2019, congregations will again gather for
the 2019 LCMS Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota:
“Real. Present. God.” The event will focus on God, our Mighty
Fortress and His Word in Psalm 46. Participants will again engage in learning and service opportunities and close with the
Divine Service on Monday, July 15.
In 2017–18, LCMS Youth Ministry and LCMS Rosters
and Statistics conducted a three-phase research study on millennials and the LCMS. In the first phase, LCMS congregations
were surveyed about their congregation and specifically on the
confirmation classes of 2004–2006. Assuming the standard confirmation age of 12–14, these young people would now be 23–27
years old. In the second phase, over 2,000 young adults were
surveyed. These young adults were confirmed in the LCMS and
answered questions of their life, current faith practices, and theology. While most are still active in the church, some had left for
other denominations or walked away from the faith entirely. In
the third phase, we conducted nine focus groups with nearly 40
active LCMS young adults to clarify their survey data. The full
2019 Convention Workbook

data on this research and its companion research within congregations is available, and will be continually updated, on the
Youth E-Source (www.youthesource.com). Additional resourcing will be provided, starting at the LCMS Youth Gathering in
July 2019.
The inaugural service year of Lutheran Young Adult Corps
(LYAC) started in Summer 2017. LYAC provides full-time service opportunities (3-month and 10-month terms) for LCMS
young adults (ages 18–26) in urban settings. Participants have
lived and served in five cities: Baton Rouge, Boston, Detroit,
New Orleans, and St. Louis. Each participant serves full-time
with LCMS churches or RSOs, increasing their capacity for
ministry. Through the 2018–2019 service year, 12 participants
have served in the 10-month program, 19 participants have
served in the 10-month “gap year” program, and over 35,000
hours of service have been provided in the name of Christ.
LCMS Servant Events continued to be hosted by LCMS
congregations, RSOs, camps, and other social service agencies.
More than 4,000 young people served at such events over the
triennium at over 70 sites. Through servant events, youth engage
in acts of mercy and enhance their understanding of vocation
and service in the church.
The Teen Leadership Initiative of Lutheran Youth Fellowship provided training for teens in three areas: 2017—Faith During Times of Transition discussed Jesus as our foundation during
transitions in life; 2018—Share Hope introduced the Christian
worldview and our opportunities to share Jesus Christ, our
hope; 2019—Motivated by Love focused on Every One His Witness, the LCMS evangelism program. A primary principle of
the Initiative is to provide training which allows for young people to replicate the training for their peers in their congregation,
circuit, district, or community. In three years, over 140 youth
and adults attended the training.
Leadership training for adults included the January 2018
Youth Ministry Symposium in St. Louis. This event was the
initial reveal of the millennial study data. Over 120 attended,
and representatives from all LCMS Districts, Concordia University and Seminary institutions, and leaders in campus ministries received a special invitation to attend. The National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference took place in July 2018 in
Minneapolis, with over 400 participating. This conference was
a stand-alone youth ministry training, with information especially geared to preparing for the 2019 LCMS Youth Gathering.
Resource development included regular monthly updates
of YouthESource (www.youthesource.com) online resource. Bible
studies, blogs, and youth and young adult ministry-based resources are available. In August 2019, LCMS Youth Gathering
speakers will provide over a year’s worth of resources for congregational youth ministry. The office also provides resources
through servant events (Bible study and devotion materials),
Youth Gathering (Bible studies, adult leader helps), and Lutheran Youth Fellowship (leadership training materials). Youth
Ministry staff also presented on the millennial research and other youth ministry topics at venues, including LCMS seminaries, Concordia universities, LCMS district youth events, district
church-worker events, and other LCMS conferences.

Campus Ministry (LCMS U)—Rev. Marcus
Zill, Director
In 2020, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the