mission in transition lutheran hours ministry roc chicago
TRANSCRIPT
Mission in Transition
Lutheran Hours Ministry ROC Chicago
Agenda – Mission in Transition How serious is the need? What are the symptoms? What can we do?
How Serious is the Need?
Mission in Transition
Lutheran Hour Ministries ROC Chicago
LCMS Trends(numbers shown in millions)
2.892.72 2.61 2.54 2.42
2.01 2.04 1.96 1.92 1.85
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
1971 1981 1991 2001 2006
Number of Baptized Members Number of Confirmed Members
LCMS Trends
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
1971 1981 1991 2001 2006
Number of Congregations Children Baptized
Juniors Confirmed Adults Confirmed or Baptized
Total Gained From Outside
LCMS Trends750,000
492,000425,499
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
1971 2001 2006
Sunday School Enrollment
LCMS TrendsAverage Weekend Worship Attendance*
198.0
156.8 156.4 158.9168.9 164.2 172.5
0.0
50.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
1971 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
* Based on average of reporting congregations
What are the Symptoms?
Mission in Transition
Lutheran Hour Ministries ROC Chicago
The Canary in the Mineshaft
Canaries Declining worship attendance Decreased giving or “I’ll only give for…” Can’t pay people to serve on the
and the Boards Members define the “problem” as lack of
money People propose as the
“solution” to the “problem” People put up with (quality) “If only…” becomes the hope / reason /
excuse
Toxins in the Body Lack of belief in God’s promises and provision Poor stewardship Complacency / self satisfaction “Inside” perspective Poor quality Few Christ-centered relationships Money is the problem and the answer
Sin and Programs
Results or Effects of Sin in the
World
Manifestations of Sin
Sin
Programmatic responses
What we observe
Word and Sacrament
The Lutheran verses Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
What do we do?
Mission in Transition
Lutheran Hour Ministries ROC Chicago
Survival or…? Israel in the wilderness Abraham Moses Barak Gideon David You Me
17
Transformed “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2,3 (NIV)
St. Charles to Papua New Guinea
No Coffin Required!
Outreach vs. Engagement Outreach
“to reach out” Engagement
“a : the act of engaging : the state of being engaged
b : emotional involvement or commitment”
What do we do? Jesus is the point, the center, the direction,
the answer, the… Pray for your pastor and his family Do an informal assessment: inward or outward
focused Website Signage Visitor’s POV Programs Quality Board and Voter’s meeting subjects
What do we do? (cont.)
Mission of the congregation Purpose Direction
LCEF / Mission InSite Study Point of engagement
Long-term “Emotional commitment”
Start small and keep going The flywheel principal
Requires engaged people to be engaged!
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Together• “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)
What does the future hold?
26
Contact Information
Bob Gleason
Robert Gleason Consulting LLC
414-530-3195