Transcript Mission in Transition - Lutheran Hour Ministries

Mission in Transition
Lutheran Hours Ministry ROC Chicago
Agenda – Mission in Transition
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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)
3.5
3
2.89
2.5
2.01
2.72
2.61
2.04
2.54
1.96
2
1.92
2.42
1.85
1.5
1
0.5
0
1971
1981
1991
Number of Baptized Members
2001
2006
Number of Confirmed Members
LCMS Trends
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
1971
1981
Number of Congregations
Juniors Confirmed
Total Gained From Outside
1991
2001
2006
Children Baptized
Adults Confirmed or Baptized
LCMS Trends
800,000
750,000
700,000
600,000
492,000
500,000
425,499
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
1971
2001
Sunday School Enrollment
2006
LCMS Trends
Average Weekend Worship Attendance*
250.0
200.0
198.0
156.8
156.4
158.9
2001
2002
2003
168.9
164.2
2004
2005
172.5
150.0
100.0
50.0
0.0
1971
* Based on average of reporting congregations
2006
What are the Symptoms?
Mission in Transition
Lutheran Hour Ministries ROC Chicago
The Canary in the Mineshaft
Canaries
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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
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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
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Ephesians 2:8-9
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“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
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“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…?
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Israel in the wilderness
Abraham
Moses
Barak
Gideon
David
You
Me
Transformed
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“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)
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St. Charles to Papua New Guinea
No Coffin Required!
Outreach vs. Engagement
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Outreach
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“to reach out”
Engagement
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“a : the act of engaging : the state of being engaged
b : emotional involvement or commitment”
What do we do?
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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
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Website
Signage
Visitor’s POV
Programs
Quality
Board and Voter’s meeting subjects
What do we do?
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Mission of the congregation
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Long-term
“Emotional commitment”
Start small and keep going
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Purpose
Direction
LCEF / Mission InSite Study
Point of engagement
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(cont.)
The flywheel principal
Requires engaged people to be engaged!
Together
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“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?
Contact Information
Bob Gleason
Robert Gleason Consulting LLC
[email protected]
414-530-3195
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