ELCA Worship Resource Needs Researched

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America want worship resources that are easy to use and accessible to new members and visitors, according to a recent survey. The Board for the Division for Congregational Ministries heard the survey results at its meeting here Feb. 28 - March 1.=20
=22The survey continues our effort to gain insight into a congregation=27s practice and preferences in the area of worship,=22 said = the Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director for the Division for Congregational Ministries. Key findings of the study dealt with worship planning, worship resource materials and the =22changing scene=22 in = worship.
=22We=27ve learned that at least half of our congregations have made = an effort to introduce worship styles and practices that are somewhat more modernized,=22 Bullock said. =22While most of these changes have been incremental, just over half of the congregations surveyed described their service as having contemporary elements in terms of worship resources.=22 = =20
The survey was distributed to 400 congregations. =22In the case of this study, having 334 respondents means that were we to ask the same questions of all ELCA congregations their responses would be the same, = plus or minus just above 3 percent. Given 3 percentage points either way, = it=27s highly probable that these replies represent the opinions of all pastors = of ELCA congregations,=22 reported the Rev. Michael Rothaar, director for planning.
When congregations envision what should happen in worship, about 70 percent of congregational leaders surveyed emphasized =22the renewal and energizing of current members.=22 They also gave high priority -- 63 = percent -- to two other goals: providing challenges to their members, and helping members and visitors cope with daily life situations, stated the report. = =22That=27s some data that needs to be chewed on,=22 said the Rev. John B. Mawhirter, Zion Lutheran Church, Sandusky, Ohio. =22This strikes at the heart of evangelism,=22 said the board member.
=22The division=27s intention in conducting the study was to do = market research,=22 said Bullock. =22We intend to apply this research to meet = the ministry needs of congregations,=22 she said.
=22Another study, to be completed late this year, will look at ELCA congregations whose history and membership trends suggest that they will = be among the strongest in the years ahead. A study focusing on congregations regarded among their peers as exemplary for the quality of their worship will also be conducted in 1998,=22 Bullock said.
=22We believe studies like this one are very valuable,=22 Bullock = said.=20 =22A previous study in 1993 had informed the division=27s decision to = publish =27With One Voice,=27 a supplement to the =27Lutheran Book of Worship,=27 = currently in use in 52 two percent of our congregations.=22
Bullock said the study did not point the division =22in the direction to produce another worship supplement, but there does seem to be an = ongoing market opportunity to produce resources featuring contemporary music and liturgies.=22
In a related action the board recommended a new Spanish-language worship resource called, =22Libro de Liturgia y C=E1ntico=22 (Book of = Liturgy and Religious Song). It features four musical settings of the Liturgy representative of the Spanish Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico.
=22The book is a complete Spanish-language resource designed to = fulfill the worship needs of Lutheran communities in the Americas,=22 said Evelyn = B. Soto, director for multilingual and culture specific resources. Soto said the book was developed by Latino theologians, musicians and composers.
=22For hundreds of years the Anglo community has shared with us their worship materials, and we have translated them from English to Spanish,=22 said Angel M. Mattos, Bayam=F3n, Puerto Rico, in an interview. =22This = time we want to share with the Anglo community our music and liturgies. The book contains English translations for at least 30 percent of its hymns,=22 he said. Mattos is the project manager for the worship book.
The 672-page, hard-cover book will be available in April. A = 60-minute audio cassette will accompany the book.
The Rev. Kelly Chatman, director for youth ministries, reported to the board that he continues to hear concerns regarding a resolution passed by the Lutheran Youth Organization at its 1997 convention. The resolution asks the church to =22investigate=22 the feasibility of an event for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth to immediately precede the triennial ELCA Youth Gathering. Two other events that precede the gathering are the Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event (DAYLE) and the Multicultural Youth Leadership=

Event (MYLE).
Some members of the church shared concerns about intervention by adults, Chatman said. =22When the resolution was written and debated by = the youth at the convention, there was no adult involvement,=22 he said.=20
=22Another concern is that some people are viewing this action as a statement about sexuality. It is not. It is about engaging in ministry with gay, lesbian and bisexual young people,=22 Chatman said.
=22The real power behind the resolution, for me, is the way youth at the convention shared example after example of how their congregations and families engage in meaningful ministry with gay, lesbian and bisexual people,=22 Chatman said.
=22Any expectation that the investigation by the church will result = in an event is extremely premature,=22 Chatman reported. The board for the youth organization, in a 1997 meeting, also committed to a 10-month focus on prayer and ministry and invites the church to join the youth organization in discerning how to best minister with gay, lesbian and bisexual youth who are living in their schools, homes, churches and communities,=22 he said.
=22The youth of the church are deeply rooted in love and respect for the church. Their focus and intent is to share the youth organization as = a rich reservoir of leadership invested in the future and ministry of this church. The Board requests that ELCA bishops, pastors and families engage and mentor our youth as they struggle with difficult issues. This is why they have established April 29, 1998, as a day for communication on the Internet and a time for prayer and engagement with pastors, theologians = and families,=22 said Chatman.
The resolution =22is a challenge, but it is good for the church,=22 = said board member Jim Myers, Kailua, Hawaii.
=22The youth brought the issue to the table for the church to think about,=22 said the Rev. Ronald B. Ferrell, Rock Island, Ill. =22The = division should take the responsibility of becoming a mentor to the Lutheran Youth Organization. The youth organization has been on the cutting edge of ministry for this church,=22 said the board member.

For information contact:=20
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS=40ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html