SE MN SYNOD: Assembly 2004

2004 Synod Assembly: "Called Into God's Marvelous Light"

Live update added 8:15 p.m., Friday, April 23, 2004

Participants Learn About Evangelism in Many Contexts

Several speakers talked about various aspects of evangelism during a series of workshops at the 17th annual Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly.

The workshops, held Friday afternoon, covered eight aspects of evangelic work. Speakers talked about ministry in urban and rural environments, having the courage to lead and thinking positively about evangelism.

Speakers also discussed how to involve new congregations in evangelism, reaching youth, the importance of clear communication, and using "Renewing Worship," a new hymnal.

In a workshop focusing in urban America, the Rev. Dr. Kathryn Bradley-Love said pastors must work beyond church walls. She said pastors must help and reach people where they need to be helped and reached.

"What you're doing is building up the body of Christ," she said. "There is a savior who cares about all of us."

Similarly, the Rev. Nancy Nyland said pastors must be widely visible in rural communities. She suggested that pastors shop in various communities, write columns for newspapers in neighboring cities and invite everyone they meet to church.

"Evangelism is a way of life," Nyland said. "The reality is that there are a lot of people out there who need to meet Jesus."

The Rev. Eric Shafer, director of communications for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said churches can reach out through many different mediums. He said radio and television can be effective, but expensive. Alternatively, some newspapers and cable access stations will offer a free listing or short gathering notice.

Shafer said one of the most effective ways for churches to reach the community is by having a web site. He said young adults frequently use the Internet to find local churches.

"Every congregation needs to have a web site and you have no excuse," he said. "If you need help, ask a middle school student."

A panel of speakers addressed how churches can reach out to youth. During the session, speakers said activity coordinators should emphasize small group activities and target elementary school age children. They also said youths should always be able to understand the activities designed for them.

One speaker noted that by inviting neighborhood children to participate in existing activities, congregations can reach the unchurched and be familiar to those children.

Rev. Kirby Unti, a pastor at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Renton, Oregon, and an ELCA Partner in Evangelism, spoke in a separate workshop.

Unti presented his understanding of leadership by sharing the experiences gained through the transforming of his congregation. He said leaders are called to embrace the gift that is leadership. Still, Unti said leadership can be a challenge because there is a tendency to "study things to death" instead of acting on them.

"There is a difference between being responsible and faithful," he said. "As Lutherans, we have often been way too responsible."

The Rev. Carmala Aderman, assistant to the bishop at the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin and an ELCA Evangelism Strategy Task Force member, said evangelism can be a nebulous term.

"The ELCA's document is a strategy, not a program or social statement," she said. The idea is "to lift up general principles that can be worked out in specific local contexts."

She then led the workshop through a discussion of the four objectives included in the strategic plan: call the church to prayer; prepare and renew evangelical leaders; teach discipleship; and start and renew congregations.

Four Southeastern Minnesota Synod mission developers related stories of evangelical outreach through their young congregations.

The Rev. Gary Dreier from People of Hope in Rochester said while their congregation's mandate was to be different from the others, "there is nothing new about doing things new. The church always has to work hard to do evangelism."

Rev. Peter Reuss from Peace in Eyota talked about relational ministry with the idea of "moving the front door of the church out into the community." Another older yet valid strategy is the basis for "Rejoice!" As a joint effort of Hosanna in Lakeville and the ELCA, the Rev. Dan Clites said "Rejoice!" is an example of "churches birthing churches."

Gloria Dei in Rochester is yet another type of development. The Rev. Steven Ronningen said Gloria Dei will be "one church at two sites" rather than closing and relocating.

Scott Weidler, the ELCA's associate director of worship and music, said worship can be renewed through the use of new materials. To this end, the ELCA is creating Renewing Worship, a new hymnal.

Workshop participants were led through a discussion of ways to engage congregations in conversations about the Renewing Worship materials. He said feedback is important to the process, whether that feedback is positive or negative. A list of resources for having further conversations, including principles of worship, was distributed in the workshop.

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