LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 377

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PARISH SERVICES 377

thirty-six and one-tenth percent (36.1%) over the 6-year period
to $210,925.

The budget allocation in the current year for youth ministry
is seven-tenths of one percent (0.7%) of the Synod’s budget for
1975. This allocation represents a reduction of seventeen and
seven-tenths percent (17.7%) from 1974. We believe that budget
allocations reflect the Synod’s priorities. We believe the Synod
needs to take a strong stand and give a firm commitment to the
youth of our church.

The goals and purposes of youth ministry have been spelled
out by our Lord Himself. ‘Share the Good News of Jesus Christ
and equip people for service in God’s kingdom.” The mandate
is clear!

Our Lord Himself is at work in a care ministry to His world.
He brings the world the promise of His continued love and for-
giveness, the same love He demonstrated to Zacchaeus, Mary
Magdalene, Peter, and to you and me. He invites those who
share that promise to join Him in being and proclaiming that
Good News to the world. Adults are Christ’s promise to youth,
and youth are His promise to adults. Together we are His
promise of hope to a hope-hungry world.

Recommendation 1: To Provide Adequate Funds for Youth
Ministry
WHEREAS, The Lord of the church in the past has blessed The

Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod with people who had a
strong commitment to youth ministry; and

WHEREAS, The research reported on in Bridging the Gap and
Five Cries of Youth has demonstrated that a ministry with youth
requires clear communication of the Gospel, necessitates
equipping youth for faithful service to God, and requires settings
where youth can demonstrate the mission of the church in word
and life; and

WHEREAS, Funding for youth ministry in the Synod amounted
to $330,034 in 1968 and has declined steadily to $210,925 in 1974
(36.1% decline —see table) and to $184,955 projected for 1975: and

EXPENDITURES —- BOARD OF YOUTH MINISTRY

1968 __________ $330,034 (1.09%) | 1972 _ $220,859 (0.89%)
1969 273,263 (1.08%) 1973 229,300 (0.87%)
1970 266,141 (0.99%) = 1974 210,925 (0.80%)
1971 _. 229,692 (0.99%) 1975 184,955 (0.71%)

Figures in parentheses indicate percent of total synodical expendi-
tures for each year —a decline each year.

WHEREAS, For the same period of time the Synod’s budget
has declined only 10.7%, from $28,950,000 in 1968 to $25,851,000
in 1974; and

WHEREAS, This indicates that youth ministry is a declining
priority for the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod assembled in convention in Ana-
heim affirm a strong commitment to youth ministry and indicate
to the Board of Directors of the Synod that youth ministry should
have a high priority; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors be instructed to pro-
vide financial resources for youth ministry in line with the
priority that the Synod places on youth ministry.

Recommendation 2: To Encourage the Development of
Leadership Teams for Youth Ministry

WHEREAS, Leading young people in their ministry is a serious
and many-faceted responsibility; and

WHEREAS, A team of people working together can both
supplement and support one another; and

WHEREAS, A team of youth and adults working together as
leaders in youth ministry can model the Christian mutuality
desired in the church; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod urge all congregations to select
five to eight qualified persons, approximately half youth and
half adults, to provide leadership for the young people of the
congregation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage all congregations to
make use of the growth opportunities provided by the Districts
and the Synod and make available the necessary financial

assistance to enable these leadership people to participate in
at least one leadership training event each year.

Recommendation 3: To Encourage the Congregations of the
Synod to Provide Opportunities for Leadership Develop-
ment at the Local Level

WHEREAS. It is each congregation's responsibility to provide
orientation and ongoing help to volunteers who agree to serve
the Lord as leaders in youth ministry; and

WHEREAS, All youth leaders are in need of orientation and
in-service training, and synodical and District programs cannot
possibly reach more than a small percentage. and

WHEREAS. Helps for providing local leadership development
are available (i. e., “Lead Out,’ a multimedia kit for developing
adult leaders for youth ministry); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage all congregations to
provide orientation and in-service training for adults and young
people who are leaders or who have agreed to become leaders
in youth ministry; and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod recommend “Lead Out,” available
from Concordia Publishing House, as a useful tool for this
purpose.

Recommendation 4: To Provide “Youth Effectiveness Train-
ing” for Youth and Young Adults

WHEREAS. Effective communication is a key for living out
our life of love in Jesus Christ: and

WHEREAS, Young people are in need of skills for effective
communication with their family and friends; and

WHEREAS, “Parent and Teacher Effectiveness Training for
Lutherans” has shown itself to be a viable model for increasing
skills for effective communication for parents, teachers, and
leaders in our Synod; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod request the Board of Youth
Ministry in cooperation with the Board of Parish Education
to adapt this model for use with young people (high school age
and young adults); and be it further

Resolved. That our congregations and schools be encouraged
to make ‘“‘Youth Effectiveness Training" available to the young
people in our Synod.

Recommendation 5: To Help Young Adults in the Church
Find Meaning

WHEREAS, There are many young adults who are single
and involved in meaningful occupations in the membership
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (350,000 is a rea-
sonable estimate); and

WHEREAS, The patterns used in the church frequently cause
single persons to feel unneeded and even unwanted; and

WHEREAS. Many of these young adults are attempting to
live out a Christian commitment in whatever their situation
might be in family, community, or parish; therefore be it

Resolved. That the parishes of The Lutheran Church-—Mis-
souri Synod be encouraged to gather information regarding
the needs of single young adults in their parish and together
with young adults develop ways to minister to these needs:
and be it further

Resolved. That the parishes of the Synod encourage young
adults to discover meaningful ways to be in ministry within
the church (i. e., young adult groups, church choirs, educational
and volunteer agencies of the church, the International Lu-
theran Young Adults — Missouri Synod).

Recommendation 6: To Provide a Program for Developing
the Christian Witness Among Youth (Gospel Communication
Clinic)

WHEREAS, The Synod in this convention has chosen to em-
phasize and encourage personal witnessing: and

WHEREAS, A program identified as Gospel Communication
Clinic has been developed and field-tested: and

WHEREAS, The Board of Youth Ministry and the Board for
Evangelism support the Gospel Communication Clinic as an