LCMS Districts Cite Role of Consecrated Stewards

November 26, 2009 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 101 Districts report positive results with revitalization, 'Stewards' By Joe Isenhower Jr. TAMPA, Fla. -- While the economic downturn continues to challenge ministries synodwide, district presidents report that congregation-revitalization efforts and programs such as "Consecrated Stewards" are helping offset the economy's negative effects as they bolster congregations' vitality and stewardship. At the Nov. 17-19 meeting of the LCMS Council of Presidents here, four district presidents told of such realities, efforts, and outcomes in a presentation dubbed "the economy of ministry." They are Rev. Terry Cripe of the Ohio District; Rev. David Stechholz, English; Rev. James Keurulainen, New England; and Rev. Kenneth Hennings, Texas. Of those four districts, Texas is the one least affected by the economic downturn, as the state's population and work force continue to grow, and the district's budget is less stretched. "God is blessing us tremendously in Texas," Hennings said, "and we hope to use it to be a blessing to many." On the other hand, northern states such as Ohio have particularly seen economic loss. For instance, 20,000 workers in Cleveland lost their jobs on the same day, Cripe reported. Lutheran congregations in the state's urban and rural areas have been especially hard hit, he said. And this year, the district is about $50,000 behind in its budget. But Consecrated Stewards, congregation-revitalization efforts, and a "Connecting the Congregations" PowerPoint presentation the district's Board of Directors uses to communicate with circuit leaders and laity have "picked up the slack" for many congregations, he said. With such help, Ohio congregations are staying healthy, helping each other, and increasing financial support for the district, Cripe added. Through mission bequests from a five-year "Blueprint for Missions" program, the New England District has seen its deficits "reduced significantly," Keurulainen told the COP. "Missions and outreach -- we're doing it." He also said that 35 pastors in the district are in learning communities for congregational revitalization. "It's remarkable what revitalization has done for ministry in New England," he continued. "It's changing the culture for the better for many congregations." "Stewardship just isn't being preached as much as it needs to be," Keurulainen said. "Stewardship needs to begin in the lives of our pastors as they model it in their congregations." But through the revitalization process and the Consecrated Stewards program, New England congregations are "experiencing the joyful aspects of stewardship," he added. And although the economy also has affected congregations in the non-geographic English District, "focusing on the high ground of our motto, 'igniting Christ's church in mission' remains our focus," said Stechholz. He also said that despite deep cuts to its budget, the district has nine new mission starts. Stechholz said that the congregations and schools of the English District, "in worshiping the living God, are serving in their communities, connecting with the unchurched and dechurched, growing in grace and numbers by the power of the Holy Spirit, and reproducing by planting new churches." Stechholz emphasized that the district also continues to promote Consecrated Stewards to enhance congregations' mission and ministry through whole-life stewardship. Consecrated Stewards -- a part of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund's Ministry Services -- provides a spiritual setting for raising up stewardship in congregations. It explores the need of the giver to give, rather than the need of the church to receive. For more information about Consecrated Stewards, call 800-843-5233 or visit http://www.lcef.org/services/consecrated_stewards. After discussion when other presidents shared how their districts and congregations are dealing with the economy, Synod President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick thanked the COP program committee for proposing the "economy of ministry" topic and those who addressed it. "I think this is one of the most helpful discussions we've had," Kieschnick said, as he emphasized the importance of district presidents "sharing about what works."

Ministry in a Time of Recession

Here are some ways your congregation might reach out to the unemployed in your congregation and community.

Pink slip care. Assemble practical care packages for the newly laid off—workers’ rights laws for your state; recent help-wanted ads with Post-it notes and a pen; a grocery gift card; a directory of government services, mortgage renegotiation programs and local relief organizations; and a resume checklist, paper, envelopes and stamps. Encourage church members to give the packages to anyone they know who has just lost a job.

Career counsel. Recruit a human resources director or social services worker from your congregation or community, who is willing to spend a few Saturday mornings advising the unemployed on their rights and how to obtain government assistance. Advertise the free seminar in your local newspaper’s want ads and on community bulletin boards. Make sure your church knows about it—the best advertising is word of mouth.

Job pool. At each worship service, ask church members to fill out a card indicating available jobs they know of or jobs they’re seeking. Use your church Web site as well as local information boards at coin-operated laundry facilities, coffee shops and grocery stores to disperse the information to your community. (Tip: Delegate oversight of this ministry to an unemployed church member and compensate him or her—even if only a little—for the time.)

Coffee per diem. Secure permission to offer free, quality coffee and cookies outside state unemployment offices, temp agencies, etc. Take the encouragement a step further by printing a message of hope on napkins you pass out.

Weekly gathering. Reach out to the unemployed in both the church and your community through a weekly gathering at the church, a coffeehouse or other community hangout. Offer a time of sharing and, at the end, give people an opportunity to pray and be prayed for. Ask people to submit written prayer requests and let them know a team of people will be praying for them throughout the week.

Resume tune-ups. Host a free resume workshop at your church. Recruit or compensate local personnel directors, career counselors (and maybe even an English teacher!), etc., to give a brief resume dos and don’ts seminar, followed by some hands-on assistance for attendees.

—From Outreach magazine, March/April 2009