LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 23

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 23

VIL. Family Ministry Department

This new department was recently staffed with its first director,
Jeffery Schubert.

Our congregations have shown an increasing concern over the
trends in our society that impact the family as the basic unit God
created to care for individuals and to nurture faith in Him. As a re-
sult, more and more congregations are developing family ministry
activities that recognize the many types and situations of families,
that teach biblical values and that support families in physical,
emofional, and spiritual need. More Districts are beginning to cre-
ate Family Life Committees.

Significant Goals

The department intends (a) to gather a think-tank of congrega-
tion, District, college, and other leaders to assess the needs and also
the resources and training being requested; (b) to cast and commu-
nicate an effective and positive vision among us for family min-
istry; and (c) to assist District and regional leaders to share the
models of family-friendly congregations and the resources and
training needed.

Lutheran Family Association

A new and unique partnership has been formed between Con-
gregational Services and a Recognized Services Organization
called the Lutheran Family Association (LFA). While Congrega-
tional Services works with all districts and congregations, LFA
works with lay members and families with needs, church profes-
sionals in family ministry, and family-friendly congregations. Jef-
fery Schubert and the executive director of LFA, James Schlie, will
team on many projects.

During the past three years, the work of the Lutheran Family
Association was blessed beyond expectations. As we listened to
more and more congregations, the mission and ministry of the LFA
was refocused on congregations, individuals, and establishing part-
nerships. The LFA mission statement was also revised to articulate
more clearly the ministry—“Helping Families Become Grace
Places in an Anxious World.” A motto was developed that focused
on “Christ Centered Families through Family Friendly Congrega-
tions.”

Family Friendly Congregations—this effort was initiated by re-
questing District leadership to identify LCMS congregations that
were experienced or active in Family Ministry. Beginning with a
base of 300 congregations in 1995, a network of communication
was established, family-life materials such as Bible studies and pe-
riodicals were prepared, and two FFC Summits were conducted to
address family-ministry issues. Regional seminars are scheduled in
the fall of 1998 to reach several hundred more congregations.

Family Connection—this ministry of outreach to connect indi-
viduals and families with resources grew significantly during the
past three years. Listening, praying, and responding to families and
church professionals on a host of family issues resulted in an in-
crease in “800" line calls and in a decision to expand the newslet-
ters to 50,000 per edition. Requests from the Hispanic community
for materials and support resulted in a partnership with Lutheran
Hour Ministries and the LCMS Mission staff to translate newslet-
ters into Spanish and add a Spanish-speaking individual to respond
to the “800" line concerns.

Structure: During this triennium, the Family Initiative Council
was terminated and its responsibilities transferred to the Lutheran
Family Association.

VITI. Leadership Ministry Department

Louis Jander and Jerry Kosberg served as co-director: during
the past triennium. The new Director of Adult Ministry will serve
in this area until our synodical budget allows us to call a director,
hopefully next year.

Leadership Focus Groups

* Focus groups were conducted in Cleveland, Ohio, and Kansas
City, Kans., with pastors, teachers, DCEs, and lay people to de-
termine the direction the Department of Leadership Ministry
might take to serve the needs of congregations and Districts; par-

ticipants appreciated and affirmed Congregational Services’ de-
sire to listen and respond to the expressed needs of congregations
and Districts in this area.

Leadership workshops conducted in Districts requesting them.
Areas of request deal with needs assessment, planning, conflict,
recruiting and mentoring lay leaders. faith and values, internal
communication, staff relationships, relocation, orientation re-
treats, and relationships to the community.

Continued work is being done in identifying the resources and
methods for effective leadership training among professional
church workers and lay leaders, which also includes intentional
work of leadership training among young adults (ages 18-35).

Faithful Christians—Faithful Congregations

* Moved into its second phase in 1996, with additional support
through a grant from Lutheran Brotherhood and in continued
partnership with Search Institute of Minneapolis, providing sup-
port for training to Districts not yet having trained Congrega-
tional Planning Partners.

¢ Enrichment Event provided as an upgrade for those having been

trained in the process, overviewing new survey tools and demo-

graphics resources now available.

Resources available for use by congregations interested in the

comprehensive planning process include two different survey

tools, five different sources of information gathering, a congre-
gational leaders’ notebook, a step-by-step guide for establishing

a “vision-to-action” plan, and ongoing support from a trained

Congregational Planning Partner.

More than 160 individuals in 22 Districts have received training
to work with congregations.

¢ Seven Authorized Trainers are available to assist with District
training events.

National Study of Adults and Youth

* Survey conducted in 1994 by Search Institute in conjunction with
the Faithful Christians—Faithful Congregations project has re-
vealed interesting and challenging data for the LCMS.

* The report, available since September 1995, has been widely rec-
ognized and used as a resource for current and long-range plan-
ning in congregations and Districts throughout the Synod.

* Special workshops and seminars have been presented covering
the data from the survey.

* Companion study and reflection materials are being developeg;
currently one, “Reflections,” is available, which targets areas not
specifically highlighted or detailed in the original report: faith
life, understanding of theological concepts, involvement in the
congregation, Christian education, congregation attributes, and
spiritual growth and sharing.

Video Resources

* “Mentoring: Sharing the Journey,” an eight-session, video-based
course on the ministry of mentoring has been developed for use
by those considering either becoming a mentor or wishing to be
mentored; it discusses the process involved in both sides of the
mentoring relationship from beginning to end.

¢ A new four-part video series is currently in the final development
stages, available later in 1998, covering the areas of conflict res-
olution, change agent, planning process, and vision casting,
which will be especially helpful to congregations as they work
through these aspects in their ministry planning and develop-
ment.

Leadership Analysis Instrument

* A survey evaluating 60 characteristics of leaders within a con-
gregation, covering the following areas: spiritual, administra-
tion, training/recruitment, planning. communication, change,
serving, and teamwork/relationships.

* Available at no cost to congregations, that in turn administer the
survey, return survey data for processing, and then receive a six-