LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 27

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 27

7. Develop a combined resource catalog with CPH, listing youth
education and youth ministry resources

8. Visit Concordia campuses with DCE training programs
annually

9. Collaborate with Search Institute in developing Asset
Development resources for children and youth

XII. Rural/Small Town Ministry

This special ministry emphasis cuts across all department lines.
It is concerned about the 2,100 congregations (653,000 members)
of the Synod dwelling in rural or small town (2,500 population or
less) settings.

Ralph Geisler has served as the staff liaison to the Rural/Small
Town Ministry Committee, which is composed of Paul Biegner,
chairman; Bill Geis, Reuben Garber, David Dubbelde, August
Mennicke, and Eldor Meyer.

Each of the 2,100 congregations has a unique cultural makeup
different from larger town or suburban settings. This recent attempt
to listen to their needs and to provide services and resources has
been appreciated by them.

Significant accomplishments

* Conducted “Twelve Keys to Effective Church Planning” work-
shops designed to equip representatives in eleven Districts to as-
sist planning in rural/small town congregations

* Developed a lending library at the Link Library in cooperation
with the Institute of Rural Ministry on the Concordia College,
Seward, Nebr., campus

Provided a 20-session Bible study, “A Time to Plant a Time to
Grow,” designed to communicate the Gospel to members in a
rural/small town setting

Completed a 30-minute video and study guide, Country Cross-
roads, using four rural/small town congregational settings to help
congregations build on their existing strengths and to bring the
Gospel to the people in the community

Conducted “New Worker and Pastors Leadership Training”
workshops in three locations with 13 Districts sending their new
pastoral candidates who serve rural/small town congregations

Taught courses on rural ministry each quarter at Concordia The-
ological Seminary

Conducted an extensive session at the Great Commission Con-
vocation called “Bringing Hope to Rural/Small Town Congrega-
tions” for 120 congregations

¢ Supported and participated in the Great Lakes Great Commis-
sion Initiative Conference and planned other rural/small town
District conferences

Significant Resources

* Preserving and Growing Rural Congregations, with study guide,
Eldor Meyer, CPH, $3.50.

* Country Crossroads video/study guide, CPH, $16.95. Helps
rural/small town congregations recognize their strengths and op-
portunities for mission to others in their community.

_* New Worker Leadership Training Modules, available to District
leaders for training new workers and pastoral candidates serving
rural/small town congregations.

° A Time to Plant a Time to Grow, 20-session Bible studies with
reproducible lessons for participants, CPH, $19.95.

* Borrow a Book, Institute for Rural Ministry, Link Library, Con-
cordia College, Seward, Nebr., (402) 643-3651.

Significant Goals
* Explore a wide range of resources and church literature providing
examples of rural/small town congregations with vitality

* Focus on the dynamics, techniques, and strategies of leading a
rural /small town congregation through change

* Connect Districts and rural/small congregations to opportunities
available from various groups that can provide a purposeful fu-
ture

XIII. Urban/Multiethnic Ministry

Jerry Kosberg is also serving in this special emphasis area that
has not always received the attention it deserves. Much needs to be
done, as 50 percent of America’s population resides in 48 cities,
and our Synod’s presence has diminished in most urban centers and
changing communities. We look forward to the day when a full-
time director can come aboard.

Significant Accomplishments

1. Several departments of Congregational Services, with others,
have provided urban and multiethnic activities and resources in
the last triennium:

* Cross-Cultural Gathering before the Youth Gathering
* “Children at Risk/Children of Promise” symposium in At-
lanta, with Human Care Ministries and the Wheat Ridge
Foundation
* “Making New Friends” kit for outreach to different ethnic
groups, developed with North America Missions

Training videos close-captioned for the hearing impaired

Youth Servant Events

Multiethnic catalog of resources

Isolated Urban School Administrator Network Conference,

plus an annual Urban School Consultation

Training for African Immigrant Evangelism

Annual Black History Month piece sent to all schools

Four Districts guided in a learning process for urban congre-

gations in transitional neighborhoods

2. Cross-Cultural representation on the Conference of Congrega-
tional Services and the presentations by those ministries on the
unique opportunities and challenges they face.

3. Forming stronger partnerships with the Board for Black Min-
istry and North American Ministries in urban and multicultural
ministries.

4. Supported the Multi-Ethnic Congress on Urban Ministry.

Significant Resources

1. Hispanic stewardship resources

2. Korean evangelism tracts, Hispanic versions of evangelism
tracts and training materials

3. Jewish resources on Jewish feasts and the story of a Jewish
person and his conversion to faith in Jesus as the Messiah

4. Working with CPH to produce a “Churches in Transition”
resource that tells the story of four urban congregations and
their journey of trying todo ministry in the changing neighbor-
hoods of their church

Significant Goals

1. To relate to the ministry conferences of the various mission
fields of our Synod. A plan is in place to have at least four
members of the Congregational Services staff relate directly
with each of the ministry conferences of the ethnic minority
mission fields of our church body. This process will allow us
to become aware of the unique challenges and opportunities
of each mission field and for that mission field to see how
Congregational Services can support and encourage them.

2. To work with various synodical entities to develop and
support an urban institute to identify, train, and equip present
and emerging urban workers. The goal is to have an urban
institute to which Districts can send workers.

3. To foster the growing network of Downtown LCMS Congrega-
tions.

XIV. Other Developments

1. The relationship with the Commission on Worship has been a
helpful one, with Paul Grime often attending staff and
conference meetings and also offering suggestions for
preparing worship-related materials.

2. The LCMS Foundation is now including Congregational