ELCA Congregations Prepare a Recipe for Church Growth

WAUKESHA, WIS. (ELCA) -- Caring relationships, joyful worship, prayer and outreach with a gospel mandate can be a successful recipe for church growth. More than 50 pastors, lay leaders and associates in ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met here March 26-28 for the "Teaching Congregations" seminar sponsored by the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries.
Ascension Lutheran Church, noted for its outreach ministries, was lifted up as an "effective congregation" for "proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ," said the Rev. Richard A. Webb, associate director for evangelism.
"It is a known truth that in all times and places people will be drawn to God. The longing of humanity for God is universal," said the Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA's Greater Milwaukee Synod. "It is not a Lutheran need, it is a universal need to be drawn closer to God. What fundamentally draws people to church is derived from that yearning toward God." Rogness was the preacher for the conference worship services.
"We cannot speculate who will be interested in the church. There is a strong spiritual hunger in our society, but it is not always connected to the church," said the Rev. Frank D. Janzow, a pastor at Ascension. "I think there's a continued skepticism about institutions in general, and that the church is often viewed as an ancient bureaucratic institution that's not all connected to people and where one's life is," he said.
"Ascension is centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ and on the belief that the word of Christ is a tremendous gift that will have an impact on people if we can wrap them around that belief," said Janzow. "One approach is to get people connected in meaningful ways. A key way is through small group ministry," he said.
Ascension built a ministry of 32 small groups to equip youth and adult members for inviting others into "a living relationship with Jesus Christ," said Janzow. Small groups range from Bible study groups to nurture groups -- a network of spiritual care relationships.
"Our small group ministry is not just another program in the church. It is a way of being the church, an understanding of church as the gathering of God's people working together like cells in the human body," Janzow said. "The church's small group ministry exists to foster community and care among the congregation as it grows larger in number; it is based on an understanding of the church as a faith community and caring relationships," he said.
The Rev. Lisa L. Stafford, a participant from Zion Lutheran Church in Trenton, Ohio, learned that pastors and lay leaders "must be more intentional in listening to the needs of people within and outside the church." She said, "Developing small groups can be the foundation for people to be spiritually fed. Small group ministry is an opportunity for the church to meet the needs of people better than what can be done during Sunday morning worship."
"Worship is a way of life. It is the fabric of congregational life," said Dori Erwin Collins, Rejoice Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Ill. "Worship is an active art; it is a performance art. We should be encouraged to use symbols, poetic and figurative speech and to think of worship as life-giving and not a formula for meeting the needs of people," she said. Collins was a keynote speaker.
Ascension uses a variety of "visitor-friendly, joyful worship" services to reach the unchurched and continue ministry with current members. "We try to present worship in a way that is warm and receiving of people that may not know what is going to happen should they walk into a church," said Janzow. "Ascension's worship services include modern and traditional music and liturgies, gospel and multicultural settings," he said.
The parish nurse outreach program at Ascension was highlighted at the conference. "The parish nurse is designated to bring health services that focus on the holistic integration of the body, mind and spirit to its members and the community," said Deborah Ziebarth, a registered nurse at Ascension.
"The gospel is good news and it brings a message of love an acceptance, an offer of hope in the midst of brokenness. The church is called to be a healing community, a people striving to be faithful in a specific time and setting, " she said. Ziebarth is affiliated with Waukesha Memorial Hospital in Waukesha, Wis.
Three seminars will be held April 30-May 3 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Salem, Ore., and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Decatur, Ga. Another will be held May 14-17 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Enumclaw, Wash. The seminars include workshops with topics such as family-based youth ministry, planning a friendly worship service and leadership.
"I am a pastor that works less than full time. I'm in a place where I'm happy to be, but I know we need some new tools if we're going to grow," said the Rev. Gerald K. Webster, St. Phillips Lutheran Church, Ypsilanti, Mich. "The conference has given me a good sense of long-range mission strategy through small group ministry and worship styles, and that change does not happen overnight," he said.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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