CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Forty-three "mission developers" took part in a training conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Outreach here June 21-25. "A mission developer is a clergy or lay person who provides a vision for a new congregation and gathers around him or herself a new community of believers who will become faithful followers of Jesus Christ," said the Rev. Robert S. Hoyt, ELCA director for new congregations.
"The purpose of the mission developers' training is threefold," said Hoyt, "to help developers focus on the immediate tasks in starting a new congregation; to build a special spirit for developers as an elite core of pastors and lay people doing hard but meaningful work; and to introduce a working relationship with their mission directors and other ELCA resources that can be helpful in developing a new congregation."
Developers attended workshops on business administration, communication, leading small groups, technology, training leaders and worship styles. They met in small groups at several points in the conference to reflect on presentations or to simulate situations they may encounter. Worship and Bible studies were interactive experiences for the participants.
The mission developers met with their mission directors to plan their work for the immediate future. Mission directors are staff of the Division for Outreach who are deployed in specific regions of the church to assist in the development of new congregations.
Twenty directors attended the conference and led portions of the training. Developers from new ELCA congregations in Belvidere, Bolingbrook, Gurnee, Naperville and Plainfield, Ill., shared their experiences with the participants.
Kenneth W. Inskeep, director of the ELCA Department for Research and Evaluation, told the conference the Lutheran church no longer has the place in the dominant U.S. culture that it enjoyed 50 years ago. It is now competing with secular "voices" that are much more effective at "articulating their meaning of life."
"Lutherans don't like to stand up in crowds and talk about Jesus," said Inskeep. He encouraged participants to develop those skills and to equip others to talk about their faith.
Inskeep said Lutherans have a message that is particularly needed in U.S. society -- "piety without judgement." Lutherans don't seem to need all the answers, he said. They are "willing to go with people and live in the 'messiness' of life."
The Rev. Richard A. Magnus, executive director, ELCA Division for Outreach, told participants bringing people to Christ is difficult, if not impossible. "Making disciples is the work of the Holy Spirit," he said. "It's a task that's beyond you. Unless you're open to the Spirit and the people around you, it's going to be tough."
"You are crucial to the life of the church," said Magnus. "You've got phenomenal opportunities" to shape the future of the ELCA, he said.
Every situation will be different, so there are no step-by-step instructions on how to start a new congregation, Magnus said. "Ask the Spirit to reshape you" for the specific ministry in that place, he added.
"Every new congregation is going to need your creativity. There is no blueprint," said Hoyt.
In a talk on "Mission in the 21st Century," Hoyt presented information he gathered from an extensive survey of "effective congregations." In addition to constant prayer and a heavy time commitment, those involved with effective congregations have an understanding that "God is doing this."
Most of the people a mission developer encounters have never been members of a church or left church membership in their youth, said Hoyt. Developers cannot assume the people they meet will have a basic understanding of the Christian faith.
Getting people to join a church is not as important as inviting them to participate in the ministry of the congregation, said Hoyt. "It is here that we struggle with the issues of life and what God would have of us," he said. "Here you are accepted and unconditionally loved."
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
