[LCMSNews] COP approves 214 placements

["LCMS e-News" <LCMSENEWS@lcms.org>]

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>9.30.2010
>       LCMS News

>THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod

September 30, 2010 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 87

COP approves 214 placements, discusses 'revitalization'

>By James Heine

The LCMS Council of Presidents (COP) has approved the placement of 214
church workers. The number includes 34 pastors and 180 commissioned
ministers. Also, the council assigned 29 men to vicarages, including 
23
men engaged in the Specific Ministry Pastor program.

The COP met Sept. 11-14 in St. Louis. On Sept. 11, it participated in
the installation of new LCMS President Rev. Matthew C. Harrison, other
members of the LCMS Praesidium, the LCMS Board of Directors, the new
boards for National and International Mission and other Synod 
entities.
The installation took place at the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus
on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Also, the COP continued its discussion of revitalization and heard
presentations by LCMS Iowa District East President Rev. Brian Saunders
on the office of public ministry as viewed by J.A.A. Grabau, Wilhelm
Loehe and C.F.W. Walther; by South Wisconsin District President Rev.
John Wille on the importance of having "Reduction in Force" guidelines
in place; and by Dr. Bill Cochran, LCMS director of school ministry, 
on
the current state of LCMS primary and secondary schools, including
early-childhood centers. Chaplain Mike Moreno offered an update on
Operation Barnabas and Dr. Reed Lessing, director of the graduate 
school
and associate professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, presented a report on the activities of the seminary's
graduate school.

>Witness, Mercy, Life Together

As part of the regular report from the president of Synod to the COP,
Dr. Albert B. Collver III, director of church relations and assistant 
to
the president, presented an overview of "Witness, Mercy, Life 
Together,"
the new emphasis of Synod.

"These words describe virtually everything the Church does," Harrison
told the COP before Collver made his presentation.

Regarding the restructuring of the national offices of the Synod
mandated by the 2010 LCMS convention, Harrison said that he and his
staff were facing "a steep learning curve." He noted also that his 
staff
had met at length with the staff of outgoing LCMS President Dr. Gerald
B. Kieschnick, as well as with Dr. Thomas Kuchta, the Synod's interim
chief financial officer.

In other action, the COP submitted to Harrison two lists of nominees 
for
appointment to the LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters. One list
contained the names of five ordained ministers approved by the COP; 
the
other, five LCMS lay members who are attorneys. From the lists,
Harrison, in consultation with the Praesidium, will choose one 
ordained
minister and one attorney to serve on the CCM. Those selections will
then be ratified by the COP.

The procedure for the selection of these nominees is outlined in the
LCMS Bylaws.

>Discussing revitalization

In a wide-ranging discussion on revitalization, members of the COP
offered insights on how congregations in their districts are 
approaching
(or not approaching) the issue.

The discussion was a continuation of the COP's "Ecclesiastical
Leadership in a Post-Church Culture" working theme.

While districts approach the issue of revitalization from a variety of
perspectives, the issue is one that concerns everyone, observed Rev.
Keith Kohlmeier, president of the Kansas District and facilitator for
the discussion.

"There are a variety of settings in which it occurs, but the setting
seldom changes the reality," Kohlmeier said.

Whether the Transforming Churches Network or another program or 
emphasis
is employed, or a district has its own approach in place, "if it's 
going
to be successful, there has to be a good trust relationship between 
the
pastor and congregation," said Rev. Ken Lampe, president of the
Mid-South District. He noted also that the process often takes longer
than anticipated. "We have to work with the people that are there," he
said.

In the Mid-South District, the process seems to follow a pattern, 
Lampe
added. Initially, a congregation may see a decline in worship
attendance, but that decline reverses itself and attendance grows 
after
12-18 months.
Often, however, the dynamic in small congregations is very different
from that of large congregations, Lampe said, "and we are trying to
develop a different model."

Atlantic District President Dr. David Benke offered a similar insight:
Sometimes, he said, "the focus is institutional survival when you have
35 people in worship."

Others noted that, not only are congregations struggling, but often 
the
communities they serve are struggling as well, sometimes simply to
continue existing.

"Fifty percent of my congregations are in dying towns," said Montana
District President Rev. Terry Forke. The challenge, he added later, is
to recognize the sin of fear. "We have to recognize that the Word of 
God
is more powerful than our enemies."

In urban communities, the problem might be different. The community 
may
not be dying, but the church is a "drive in" congregation because most
of its members do not live in the community, but somewhere else, which
leads to a marginal connection to the neighborhood, Benke said.

At its core, revitalization is an "inside out" view, said Northwest
District President Rev. Paul Linnemann, whose district employs a
home-grown emphasis called "Tracking the Spirit." It's in "internal
motivation" that he finds the energy, he added. "Personal motivation
leads to organizational motivation. ... It's discovering that this is 
a
pretty awesome way to live," he said.

Although his district is not involved with the Transforming Churches
Network, it is working with congregations to do new things, including
new starts, said Northern Illinois District President Rev. Dan 
Gilbert.
Sometimes, he added, the first step is as simple as "finding out who
lives in that house over there" and discovering "what their needs 
are."

In summarizing the discussing, Kohlmeier identified three points: the
significance of coaching and encouragement (for both pastors and
congregations), the understanding that revitalization is an "inside 
out"
view and the recognition that one needs to be connected to the world
outside. It is important also to acknowledge that fear is often 
present,
he added in follow-up email.

"Too many pastors fear that the congregation will not be able to 
support
him and his family in the future. Too many congregations fear that 
'our
pastor will leave if things don't change, and then we are here 
alone.'"

"We're all trying to tackle the same issue," said Pacific Southwest
District President and COP Chairman Dr. Larry Stoterau at the end of 
the
discussion.

>RIF guidelines: not optional

In his presentation on Reduction in Force (RIF) guidelines, Wille 
noted
several things: First, it is important for congregations, schools, and
other agencies, including districts, to have RIF guidelines in place
before they are needed. Second, a reduction-in-force procedure should
never serve as an easy out for dealing with staff or personnel 
problems.
(Attempting to use RIF in this manner almost always fails, Wille
explained, and often results in significant legal expenses or
penalties.) Third, if you have RIF guidelines in place, it is 
important
to follow them at every step.

In establishing RIF guidelines, Wille said congregations and others
should seek the help of legal counsel. He also pointed to the 
resources
offered by the Synod's School Ministry office, which offers 
suggestions
on how to design appropriate RIF policies.

Wille noted that his own district employs RIF guidelines. 
Well-designed
guidelines will take into consideration the Synod's position on the
divine call as well Christian compassion and legal considerations, he
said.

Yet, even if you have an appropriate policy in place, and your 
economic
realities dictate that a position be eliminated, the hard part is
"sitting across the table" and telling someone you no longer have a 
job
for them, Wille said. Often, you are losing not only a colleague or
co-worker but a friend, and resulting pain and grief extends beyond 
the
individual to the rest of your staff and to the individual's family.

>Schools update

According to current statistics, more than 255,000 students are 
enrolled
in Lutheran schools, Cochran reported. The number includes more than
129,000 children enrolled in early childhood centers, some 107,000 in
elementary schools and more than 18,000 students enrolled in Lutheran
high schools. Based on district totals gathered from the Lutheran 
School
Portal, the total number of schools is 2,444, including 1,400 early
childhood centers, 945 elementary schools and 99 high schools, Cochran
said. He reported also that for the 2009-2010 school year, schools
reported more than 2,700 children baptized, as well as more than 1,900
adults baptized or confirmed.

As with many areas of church life, and life in general, Lutheran 
schools
are being challenged by the recession, Cochran said. "The economy is a
big issue, and for some schools, the final issue."

Cochran encouraged members of the COP to be "intentional advocates" 
for
Lutheran schools, to be a voice for children, and as they have time, 
to
be available to their schools. "As outstanding leaders in the LCMS, 
you
can promote and model professional leadership development," he said.

>Operation Barnabas: creating chapters

In his update, Moreno, the project manager for Operation Barnabas,
reminded the COP that when the project began in 2007, he promised 
three
things: (1) care for returning chaplains, their congregations and
families; (2) workshops to train congregations to care for military
families; and (3) a website.

>"All three are up and running," Moreno said.

Moreno also informed the COP of two new Operation Barnabas 
initiatives:
Barnabas chapters and partnerships with deaconesses.

Often, we present a workshop; yet congregations struggle with the next
steps," Moreno said. To help with those next steps, "we want to create
Barnabas chapters at the congregational level," he explained.

Moreno said his hope is that congregations, and especially veterans in
congregations, would "take this and run with it."

The chapters would serve a twofold purpose, Moreno explained: care for
military families and outreach to veterans with the Gospel. "We hope 
to
roll out the new program in January," he said.

Regarding partnerships with deaconesses, Moreno said "there are two
groups in the military that have garnered our attention the past year.
One is the spouse left behind when a service member deploys, usually a
female. The other is the female service member. We believe that
deaconesses have a unique ability to minister to other females in ways
that a male cannot. We hope to work with the deaconesses throughout 
the
Synod to work with our spouses before and during deployment."

Deaconesses may be able to help in another way, Moreno added. Often,
after a service member returns home, the spouse is the first to notice
struggles with mental-health issues or even brain injuries.

"We believe that if a deaconess has the opportunity to bond and 
create a
relationship in the months leading up to the service member's return,
she is well positioned to offer help in a crisis. If a mental-health
issue presents itself, hopefully before the situation escalates, the
spouse can turn to the deaconess and seek support."

Moreno reminded the council that as a nation we face a level of Guard-
and Reserve-unit mobilization unknown since World War II. Many times,
members of the National Guard and the Reserves have faced not one but
multiple deployments overseas.

>Recruiting students from developing countries

In his report on Concordia Seminary's graduate school, Lessing noted
that the school actively recruits graduate students from around the
world, and especially from developing countries, in the hope of
furthering Christ's mission of sharing the Gospel with all nations.

"The graduate school's Adopt-A-Student program enables partner 
churches
of the LCMS to send candidates to Concordia Seminary for the purpose 
of
forming them as teachers and leaders. Upon graduation, these 
candidates
return to guide, lead and serve in their own countries," Lessing said.

He noted also that by partnering in this effort with the graduate
school, individual donors share in the joy of a good work already 
begun
-- forming indigenous teachers and leaders trained at the highest 
level
of theological scholarship to share the message of salvation in Jesus
with all the world.

"To date, generous donors have pledged to provide $12,750 to support
Reverends Sam Thompson -- from our partner church in India -- and Tom
Omolo -- from our partner church in Kenya -- both in the Ph.D. program
for doctrinal studies."

While the seminary pays these students' tuition, anticipated living
expenses total $15,000 per student, Lessing said.

"To finish what each has started, Sam and Tom will need to remain on
Concordia's campus for three additional years," Lessing said.

In the future, the graduate school of Concordia Seminary hopes to have
"students like Sam and Tom on its campus from all of the international
partner churches of the LCMS," Lessing said. "The graduate school's
capacity to achieve its international objectives depends very much 
upon
the generosity of its international Adopt-A-Student sponsors."

>Vacancies

COP Secretary Rev. William Klettke, president of the New Jersey
District, reported that, as of September, 209 LCMS congregations were
calling sole pastors; 33, senior pastors; and 33, associate or 
assistant
pastors. He also reported 203 congregations with temporary non-calling
vacancies and 395 with permanent non-calling vacancies.

As a frame of reference, Klettke also listed the numbers for September
2007: 349 congregations calling sole pastors; 58, senior pastors; and
83, associate or assistant pastors. That same month, there were also 
418
congregations listing non-calling vacancies, compared to the total of
598 in September 2010.

In 2007, the report did not distinguish between temporary non-calling
and permanent non-calling vacancies, Klettke said.

"There is not a lot of mobility these days," said LCMS First
Vice-President Rev. Herbert C. Mueller Jr., referring to the report 
and
the state of the economy. He also added, "This is the lowest number of
calling congregations that I remember and the highest number of
non-calling congregations."

The COP's next meeting is Nov. 16-17 in Nashville, before the 2010
Lutheran Church Extension Fund Fall Leadership Conference there.

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<mailto:joe.isenhower@lcms.org>  or (314) 996-1231, or Paula Schlueter
Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org <mailto:paula.ross@lcms.org>  or (314)
996-1230.

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