Mission in Transition

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 TransitionLutheran 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

010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,000

1971 1981 1991 2001 2006

Number of Congregations Children BaptizedJuniors Confirmed Adults Confirmed or BaptizedTotal 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

156.8 156.4 158.9 168.9 164.2 172.5

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 TransitionLutheran 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 TransitionLutheran 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!

23

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 GleasonRobert Gleason Consulting LLC

[email protected]