LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 291

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PARISH SERVICES AND YOUTH 291

So when we speak of a ministry to families, we include every
person, whether married or unmarried. While we recognize and
revere the husband-wife-child concept of family, we do not
exclude any person who may find himself or herself presently
outside of these categories. Everyone is, insome way, amember
of a family. For this reason, we prefer talking about our ministry
to Christians in families.

One of the strengths of our Synod has been its emphasis
on a ministry to people in families. More parishes are giving this
a higher priority than ever before. For example, Trinity Con-
gregation, Utica, Mich., has a full-time pastor to families. Par-
ishes are experimenting with intergenerational study groups
and family clusters to keep the present and future shock from
destroying the blessings which are derived only from the close-
ness of family. Under the leadership of the Synod’s Board of
Parish Education 36 Districts have established family life com-
mittees and provide a consultative service to the parishes. The
requests are on the increase from pastors, teachers, and di-
rectors of Christian education for additional training in marriage
and family counseling, and ongoing family life education pro-
grams.

The Commitment of the Board of Parish Education

The Board of Parish Education is committed to the ap-
proximately 750,000 families of our Synod to provide leadership,
study materials, and research toward helping God’s people
enjoy the fullness of life for which Christ came. Therefore, we
give attention to such subjects as marriage readiness, money
management, the nonmarried, abortion, death, the single-
parent, child-parent relationships, divorce, remarriage, sexuality
appreciation, retirement, wanted children, staying married, the
early, middle, and later years of marriage, and alternative family
styles. Each of these issues needs to be studied in the light of
the Scriptures to show how today’s Christian can live out his life
with the assurance of God's love in Christ and with the confi-
dence of His Spirit.

The Board of Parish Education is committed to the principle
that the family is a basic teaching and nurturing unit. We believe
this because of the high priority God gives to people in families
and especially because the family is a God-created human insti-
tution. Efforts to improve family life are essential because the
life-style of the family affects. for good or ill, the lives of the
individuals in that family, as well as the community of which the
family forms a part.

The mid-1970s provide a demanding challenge for the parish
as it attempts to prevent family tragedies as well as to provide
therapy centered in the redemption of Christ for those who are
already suffering the ill effects of an unstable home.

Leadership Development for Family Life Consultants

An efficient ministry to 750,000 families in the Synod’s
parishes cannot be served adequately from one office. There-
fore, the Board of Parish Education has asked each District
education committee to select a District family life consultant
to be trained as a local resource person and a chairman of a
family life committee. The Synod’s Director of Family Life Edu-
cation is committed to a program of leadership development
with these 36 people.

Six area meetings were conducted in the biennium with six
District consultants attending each meeting. The objectives of
the leadership development meetings were:

1. to allow the District family life consultant to become ac-

quainted with his colleagues.

2. to provide an opportunity for a Christian ministry to one
another.

3. to recognize and develop leadership ability in the district
family life consultant.

4. to share new family life education ideas, plans, and models
with the District family life consultant so his committee
may become more effective in its ministry to the parishes
of the District.

5. to identify the resources available to the District family
life consultant and his committee and to the parishes of the
District.

District consultants want this type of training to continue
annually. The number of requests for materials and for personal
services indicate clearly that these consultants are effective in
their Districts.

Ontario, South Wisconsin, North Wisconsin, Oklahoma,

Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, and Central Illinois are
among the Districts which have conducted workshops specifi-
cally for people in families. Twenty-three Districts have held
8-day seminars for ministers of religion and their wives relating
to marriage and family ministry.

Parishes are encouraged to call upon their respective District
family life committees when assistance is needed for the plan-
ning and implementation of a family life education program.

Study Materials for Personal Growth

The Board of Parish Education continues to provide a variety
of study materials for youth and adults who desire to strengthen
their family relationships around God's Word. Recent Mission:
Life courses include: Love and the Family, Marriage. Money and
Human Relationships. Abortion. Focus on Marriage. Family
and children’s devotional materials produced by the Synod,
used properly, also help to strengthen Christian family rela-
tionships.

Workbooks, bibliographies. and other printed items are
available to the parishes who wish to plan their own specific
family programs. Ideas for experimental ministries are offered
to the District consultants who, in turn. make these available
to the parishes.

Requests for a more complete family life education curricu-
lum are under study by the Board of Parish Education, as are
the need for an adult family magazine and additional helps for
parents, the latter related to the Mission: Life curriculum.

A renewed interest in the study of sexuality has increased
requests for parish and District assistance. The South Wisconsin
District education committee offered a 1-day workshop to parish
leaders on sexuality, using the Concordia Sex Education Series
as a resource. Most family conferences see this subject as an
integral part of the individual’s appreciation of himself and
others as God-created sexual beings.

Pastoral Training in Marriage and Family Counseling

The program of pastoral training in marriage counseling.
instituted by resolution of the 1969 Denver convention, has been
in progress since March 1970 when the Project Director assumed
office. As of June 15, 1973, 22 District seminars have been com-
pleted. Interested pastors, teachers. directors of Christian edu-
cation, District executives and their wives participate. The
seminars are so conducted that during a first 4-day period only
the ministers of religion attend. During a second period, 5 weeks
later, these same persons and as many wives as are able, attend.

The program is so arranged that. during the first session, the
participants concentrate on knowledge and skills in counseling,
and, during the second week, emphasis is placed on marriage
relationships as well as on a program of family ministry in the
congregation. Encounter group activities, led by clinically
trained pastors, are an integral part of both sessions.

The seminars are usually held in retreat facilities or colleges
where costs can be kept at a minimum as compared with com-
mercial facilities such as hotels or motels.

Already scheduled and yet to be conducted are seminars in
five Districts with the last ore finishing 7 days before the termi-
nation of the project. March 1, 1974, according to the Denver
resolution.

The response to these seminars attended by ministers of re-
ligion, their wives, and District officials, has been gratifyingly
enthusiastic, appreciative, and exhilarating. Requests have been
overwhelming among the vast majority of both men and women
that this project be continued and that another such seminar
be conducted in the respective district in another 1 to 3 years.

Other Family Life Services

Directors of Christian Education have requested assistance
in their ministry to families. A family life kit was prepared and
distributed through the Lutheran Education Association office.
This kit contains numerous models of family life programs that
have been attempted in parishes, Districts, and circuits.

A regular feature in the Director of Christian Education
newsletter entitled— A Line on Family Life Education provides
another avenue to this person who is vitally involved in the
parish ministry to families.

The National Lutheran Parent-Teacher League and the
Board of Parish Education continue to maintain their relation-
ship with a common commitment to parent education. The