LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 20

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20

SYNODICAL REPORTS

R2-01

Board for Congregational Services

I. Introduction
The 1992 synodical convention established the Board for Con-

gregational Services and its partner, the Conference of Congrega-
tional Services, while the 1995 synodical convention established
the composition and refined the purposes of both.

While the first triennium was a time of learning and growing,

1995-98 was an exciting time of (a) listening to the Synod’s con-
gregations, ethnic groups, colleges and seminaries, and especially
the Districts, (b) responding to their requests for assistance, and (c)
experiencing God’s blessings in entering new ministries in the
Synod.

The board has been capably led by Rev. Darwin Karsten, chair-

man; Mrs, Debra Herman, vice-chairman: and Dr. David Held, sec-
retary. It established six desired outcomes for its work:
1. Congregations are providing members with the pure Word and

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Sacraments of Christ and assisting members to live out the
baptismal life.

. Congregations are responding to the needs of their local

communities.

. Congregations are ministering to nonmembers.
. Congregations are developing effective leaders for ministry.
. Congregations are dealing positively with change and

diversity.

. Congregations are benefitting from a dynamic partnership

between Congregational Services and Districts.
In all of its coordinated planning, listening and research, identi-

fying, and communicating the great diversity of models of ministry
across our church body, the board has grown in deep appreciation
for the blessings God has bestowed upon the Synod through its
many professional church workers and lay leaders. They labor hard
in a postmodern world that often shows its disdain for the truths of
God’s Word and the work of the church.

Il. Five Functions
We have come to describe our functions as fivefold for all the

departments and our interdepartmental work:

1.

Communications: Generating input from those we share and
including it and our response in all network pieces. The major
activities are quarterly activity reports to the Districts and oth-
ers, congregational/District information packets three times a
year, use of the Information Center for referrals, e-mail list ser-
vices, use of digital and interactive television to teach Fort
Wayne seminary students and to conduct interviews with Dis-
trict leaders, 150-plus District visits and listening posts yearly,
presentations at synodwide staff and chairperson conferences,
mailings to Districts, Congregational Services home page on the
Internet, use of the Synod’s Satellite Service for presentations,
and use of both synodical and District media.

. Resource Development: Annual mailings for Evangelism,

Schools, Child Ministry, Christian Education and Stewardship
Months offer ideas to choose from for strengthening a congre-
gation’s work. An annual planning guide with monthly em-
phases and resource suggestions is sent to congregations. Each
department produces a variety of Bible studies, leadership man-
uals, video kits, assessment and planning tools, etc., that attempt
to be sensitive to the diversity of congregations and inclusive of
all ages, ethnic groups and cultures. We are pleased that more
rural/small town and urban/multicultural resources are becom-
ing available. People from the field are enlisted in preparing all
resources. ,

- Resource Brokering: This is simply sharing information con-

gregations request about resources. Research on needs, trends,
and prices (like the Confirmation Study done by the Department
of Youth Ministry) is commissioned.

. Training: Over 100 training events are conducted each trien-

nium by the departments to equip professional church workers
and lay leaders for ministry. Again, congregational and District
leaders are always part of the teaching team. Special classes at
both seminaries and at many of our colleges and universities are

taught by our staff. As new District executives and chairpersons

are appointed, orientation is provided. During the triennium sev-

eral significant activities occurred:

* An “Emerging Trends in Judicatory Operation” conference
for District leaders occurred, as more of them take on con-
sultative, relational, and facilitative roles,

* The first conference of District and national staffs in 18 years
occurred this January, focusing on helping congregations.

* “Faithful Christians—Faithful Congregations” has trained
leaders in 22 Districts to assist congregations who request
help in planning for the future.

* Outreach Renewal Consultation Training.

* Church Membership Initiative, funded by AAL, has helped
nearly 1,000 congregations receive training in Great Com-
mission outreach. The funding is ending this year.

. Celebrative Events: While dozens of events are held that bring

Synod’s members together each triennium to celebrate God’s

grace, several deserve special attention:

* The Volunteer Teachers Conference, July 25-28, 1996, in
Memphis, Tenn., brought nearly 1,500 Bible class, Sunday
school, weekday school, VBS, and other teachers together.

* The 1995 Youth Gathering and the 1998 Youth Gathering
will have brought together 28,000 and 30,000 youths and
adults, respectively.

* The August 7-10, 1997, Great Commission Convocation
brought together 6,100 adults in St. Louis, and they joined
9,000 others for the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the
Synod.

III. Conference of Congregational Services
This conference of representatives (35 District, 6 ethnic, 4 col-

lege and seminary, 4 youth, 4 District staff—plus Board and Staff
members) helps us listen and respond to the whole church in our
related ministry areas. It meets semiannually and has proven in-
valuable to us in sharing information from the constituent groups
and in being our advocates out in the field.

A program committee of Rev. Darwin Karsten, chairman, Mrs.

Krista Nagy (Eastern District), and Dr. Robert Rathmacher (Indiana
District) have featured impact congregations in ministry areas

telling their story, District

presidents and staff sharing develop-

ments about new structures and ministries, congregational surveys,
ethnic-ministry developments, technology demonstrations, topics
on tough issues congregations face today, and a process by which
they feed information to staff that shapes our goals for the future.

During the triennium the International Lutheran Women’s Mis-

sionary League and Lutheran Hour Ministries started sending rep-
resentatives to the conference, a real asset to the group.

IV. Adult Ministry Department
Louis Jander served as director for most of the triennium, ac-

cepting a call in November 1997. At the time of this writing, a suc-
cessor is being called.

Adult Christian Education and Bible Study

Involving adults in both personal and congregation-sponsored
Bible study—currently about 18 percent of adults in the LCMS
Participate in some form of Bible study throughout the week. En-
couraging “whole family” involvement in personal and group
Bible study.

Coordinating with Concordia Publishing House in development
and promotion of materials for personal and group Bible study.

Adult Ministry Network Bulletin resource sent to all congrega-
tions, DCEs, and other interested individuals.

“Answers for Life,” a reproducible bulletin/newsletter insert in-
cluded with the Bulletin, includes tips and resources for increas-
ing involvement in Bible study, a question-and-answer forum,
and Bible trivia, developed in cooperation with Concordia Pub.
lishing House.

“Energizing Adult Christian Education Workshops,” led by
teams of professional church workers, to spark or reenergize an
intentional program of adult Christian education within congre-