ELCA Men's Organization Organizes "Tool Kit"

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A new "Men's Ministry Tool Kit" will be available this winter for the 10,851 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The board of Lutheran Men in Mission discussed the components of the tool kit and other items when it met here Oct. 13-15.
The tool kit is designed to be a "full-fledged training course on the how-to of men's ministry," said Douglas Haugen, director for men's ministries, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries.
"Over the years, our office has received hundreds, if not thousands of e-mail messages and phone calls requesting information on how to start an effective men's ministry. With this tool kit, we will put resources that have been tried and tested into the hands of men leaders who are looking for guidance," he said.
The kit contains the "Master Builders Bible for Men," the men's ministry action plan, the "Man-2-Man" audio tape, the book "How to Build a Life-Changing Men's Ministry," and a three-session video course called, "Building Blocks for Men's Ministry." The resources are packed together in a "Master Builders" tool bag.
"Fewer than one-third of adults worshiping in most of our churches are men," said Charles Schwartz, president, Lutheran Men in Mission. "The Lutheran Men in Mission board and staff are serious about empowering congregations to reach men for Christ. With this tool kit, we will assemble the best resources we know about from Lutherans and other sources for our congregations," he said.
Malcolm Carroll, a student at Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, Wash., and board member, informed the board about a new compact disc resource designed to invite men between 18 and 30 years old into the ELCA men's ministry, as well as be a resource for "those who care about them." Carroll told the board that the compact disc includes the voices of young men, their ideas about relationships and the church, and music that is appealing to them.
"The comments and music on the compact disc can provide great discussion points among generations of Lutheran men," he said.
The compact disc, funded and produced by the ELCA will be featured at the "Tools for a New Generation," event on Jan. 27, 2001, in Seattle. The one-day event is designed "to reach ELCA men between the ages of 18 and 30," said Carroll.
The event is a way to encourage young men "to be Christian in a post-modern world, saying 'yes' to Christ and to others in a way that honors people," he told the board.
Speakers at the event include the Rev. Bruce A. Cole, Faith Lutheran Church, Mundelein, Ill.; the Rev. Nathan C. Frambach, professor, Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa; and Carroll. Music will be provided by the Rev. Richard A. Webb, associate director for evangelism, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries.
In other business, the board accepted a report by its development council. The council is designed to increase and maintain an "adequate financial base" for Lutheran Men in Mission. The board organized the council at its last meeting on March 24-26.
"It became evident that new trails had to be blazed in order to organize gift solicitation" for the men's organization, Schwartz said.
The 17-member council met for the first time here Oct. 12. Dr. Charles Oestreich, president emeritus, Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, chairs the council. Heber Rast, Cameron, S.C., vice president for the men's organization, is vice chair of the council.
"It is the belief of the board that with this council we will be able to blend the objectives, dreams and mission of Lutheran Men in Mission once the council establishes a comprehensive gift-solicitation plan," Schwartz said in his report to the board.
The board acted to:
+ Appoint Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) as a "bona fide mission" of the men's organization. LDR is a ministry of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The board learned about disaster response in a presentation delivered by the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for LDR, and director for Domestic Disaster Response, ELCA Division for Church in Society. The development council of the men's organization will develop a "mechanism" to support the mission of LDR in men's ministries;
+ Investigate the possibility of engaging in ministry with men of the Lutheran Church in Guyana. The board will explore "funding opportunities" to send Haugen and Schwartz to Guyana to meet with men of the Lutheran church there;
+ Build and continue conversation with men from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. The board will explore the "possibility and feasibility" of establishing a formal relationship with men from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; and,
+ Forward a "multi-year strategic plan" to the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries board for its consideration. The strategic plan is designed to guide the work of the men's ministry and organization in the next five years. Goals articulated in the plan include securing active participation by men "of all ages and cultures" in the life of Lutheran Men in Mission, increasing financial support for the men's organization, and building quality program resources for the men's ministry.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html