Lutheran Men Strive to Build Legacy of Faith

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (ELCA) -- The 1999 Lutheran Men's Gathering brought together more than 600 grandfathers, fathers, sons and friends to explore what it means to "build a legacy of faith and life" that will make a difference in families today and for generations to come. The gathering took place here Aug. 13-15 at the Beaver Run Resort.
Under the theme, "Building Legacy," men worshiped, sang, participated in workshops and heard keynote presentations.
Men from "the plains, hills, seashores and mountains discovered a fresh relationship with God and with other men on the same faith journey," said Douglas Haugen, director for Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) -- the men's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The goals of the gathering were three-fold, Haugen said. "The event served to connect men from all generations in America today; spark new men's ministries in ELCA congregations; and uplift and support the Lutheran Men in Mission organization," he said. LMM is organized in 42 of the ELCA's 65 synods.
The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, greeted the gathering. "Recognize that you are a legacy. The time men spend with young people is rare in today's society. You are unique."
Anderson said Breckenridge is an appropriate place for this gathering. "A mountain is a good place to be," he said. "Moses met God and received the Ten Commandments on a mountain, and the disciples came to know more about Jesus on a mountain."
The Rev. Walter (Walt) Wangerin Jr., host of Lutheran Vespers, the radio ministry of the ELCA, led a keynote presentation with his two sons, Joseph, 29, and Matthew Wangerin, 28. Walt said the keynote was his first stage presentation with his sons. The Wangerins spoke on the "Building Legacy" theme.
"Legacy can be about what is passed down. It's not hereditary, but legacy can be about sharing stories from generation to generation," said Matthew, a restaurant manager in Atlanta. Joseph is a freelance artist and sculptor.
In their presentation, Matthew and Joseph shared stories about growing up and the significance of their father. Walt discussed the process of naming a child, "a holy thing God has given to parents." Growing up, Matthew was often called by his father "the loud war-cry."
"The process of naming is a way we discover children. Naming is the declaration of a whole character, and how a child begins to identify and knows himself," said Walt. "God empowers us to name, and everything named establishes relationships."
The Wangerins were introduced by Rollie Fredrickson, Chippewa Falls, Wis., an LMM board member. Fredrickson brought his two sons and five grandsons to the gathering.
Workshop topics at the men's gathering ranged from dealing with anger constructively to men as key leaders in teaching faith. Curtis Miller, associate director of men's ministries for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), led a workshop on developing "healthy" men's ministry in cooperation with other churches. In 1997, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to enter into full communion with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America and the United Church of Christ.
The Rev. Roland D. Martinson, a professor of pastoral care at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., a seminary of the ELCA, led a seminar on foundations for building men's ministries. Lyman Coleman, president of Serendipity, a publishing company in Littleton, Colo., led a seminar on small group ministry for men.
Music at the 1999 Lutheran Men's Gathering was provided by musician and songwriter Paul Todd, the music group Dakota Road and guitarist Tony Melendez. Born without arms and hands, Melendez plays the guitar with his feet.
Bible study was led by the Rev. Albert Starr Jr., Ascension Lutheran Church, Los Angeles. "Legacy is about relationship and an exchange between generation and generation," Starr said. Starr also serves on the California Governor's Commission on Fatherhood.
"God is present in all generations. That is a legacy and a promise," Starr said. "God does not give us a legacy of fear, but a legacy of power, love and self-control." Starr asked men to think about how our nation and society experience grief and hopelessness, and how the church can be prepared to respond. He also asked men to think about what they want the next generation to inherit and why.
The Rev. Richard Hardel, executive director for the Youth and Family Institute of Augsburg College, Minneapolis, a college of the ELCA, was a keynote presenter. Hardel said nothing is more important than "men proclaiming to be nurturers of faith. "
"We seek our father's blessings. Fathers, don't wait a lifetime to give it. Give it now, so that your child may see Jesus in your life. Have your children and your children's children know the power of forgiveness," Hardel told the gathering.
Bart Campolo, vice president of Kingdomworks, an urban youth ministry in Philadelphia, said, "Fathers give us a start in life, and this should be the basis for measurement. Do not compare yourself with other people, not even with your own father, which is what we tend to do. We all have different starts; test yourself against yourself."
Campolo said men do not look "into the mirror much, but we must. You must take stock of who you are and see what you have. If you want to build a legacy, first determine that which you have. Next, you must determine what you can do with what you have. Our fathers may have blessed us with a starting point, but it is who we are in the end that matters. We are all made in the image of God. Our legacy may be bad or good, but your destiny is terrific."
The Rev. Richard Jensen, professor of homiletics, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and musician Paul Todd, delivered a sermon with music from famous Broadway plays. Jensen said plays like "Phantom of the Opera," "Rent," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Les Miserables" illustrate the "incredible welcome of God's grace" in ordinary lives.
Ken Canfield, president of the National Center for Fathering, a non-profit education and research center dedicated to "inspiring and equipping" men to be responsible fathers, was a keynote presenter. "We have been given testosterone, we have been given power," he said. "Men set the pace for the world."
Canfield outlined four "'I can's of fatherhood: involvement, consistency, awareness and nurture. A father needs to spend time with family, and a father should know his children's personality, spiritual gifts and learning capacity. A father also expresses love, an eruption of the kingdom of God and our destiny."
The men's gathering closed with worship. Walt Wangerin preached the sermon. More than $30,000 was given for the men's organization.
Preceding the men's gathering, the Lutheran Men in Mission board met here Aug. 12-13. The board re-elected Charles Schwartz, Fredericksburg, Texas, president of LMM. Heber Rast, Cameron, S.C., was elected vice president; Leroy Simonson, Rolf, Iowa, was elected secretary; and Ken Getzin, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., was re-elected treasurer.
"We're looking to do bigger and better things," said Schwartz. "Members of Lutheran Men in Mission plan to raise $100,000 to match a $100,000 gift given to support the work of the men's organization."
"We hope membership in the men's organization will expand. We also hope that the organization becomes financially independent and not rely on subsidies from the ELCA. A goal of LMM is to help enrich and develop the faith lives of men, so that their relationship with Jesus Christ strengthens," Schwartz said.
The goal of LMM is to build men's faith, relationships and ministry through men's gatherings, resources produced by the organization and leadership development, Haugen said. LMM works to achiev