4. The Church!
SynodCongregation
Word & Sacraments
Pastors
Institutions
Mission in Ministry
Hunger
Barnabas Uplift
LYO
Word & Sacraments
Pastors
Institutions
Mission in Ministry
Hunger
Barnabas Uplift
LYO
5. The Church!
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Churchwide
SynodCongregation
Word & Sacraments
Global Mission
Hunger
Publishing
Resources
Organization
Word & Sacraments
Global Mission
Hunger
Publishing
Resources
Organization
What is the Church? A brief power point presentation to introduce the concept of the “church” as being larger than the “congregation” in order to introduce the function of the Synodical Lutheran Youth Organization.
Title Slide
While most organizations, including churches, have a hierarchical structure the ELCA was organized to be fundamentally collaborative.
Give two concrete examples institutions with hierarchical structure i.e. the military: general, cornel, major, etc.; High school: Board of Ed., Superintendant, principal, teachers, staff, students. Ask students to list other examples.
Give examples of collaborative relationships: Friends going to a mall together, study groups, Iowa Caucus, etc. Ask students to give their own examples.
Let us start with the most local and most dynamic expression of the church – the local congregation. The congregation is fully the church but not the entirety of the church. The ministry of the congregation is the Word of God and Sacraments (Holy Baptism and Holy Communion) and then by how we rejoice in those including evangelism, social ministry, Christian Education, etc. Including youth & Family Ministry. Ask the students what other Congregational ministries they can list. Ask who has the most unusual congregational ministry?
The Middle judicatory
-synod = two planets that travel together – traveling together – gathering of church leaders – groups of congregations
Cow – herd
Whales – pod
Kangaroos – mob
Churches - synod
The Synod too is fully the church but not the whole church
A ministry of Word and Sacrament
A ministry yes, but of a different nature
The servants of the congregation – sometimes parent like
181 congregations, 2 colleges, 1 seminary, 2 camps, 1 elementary school, preschools, nursing homes, LSI, lobbyists, Bishop and staff
This is where money comes in – penny to penny reports
We help usually by being a place of connection,
We do ministry one church cannot, Youth gathering, vocation’s day, calendar, communications,
Conferences, ss teacher training, pre-maritial, lay school of theology, Crossways Bible study, pastors, Barnabas Uplift, and LYO
Show the CD as illustration
Next slide
It’s called churchwide because it includes more than the 50 states
ELCA is also the Church but not the fullness of the church
This is the 3rd of the “three expressions” of the ELCA
This ministry too is centered on the Word & Sacraments
All the information you could want is at www.elca.org
In Addition there is the Lutheran Community expressed in the Lutheran World Federation
Formed in 1947 in response to post WWII refugee and rebuilding challenges
The LWF confesses the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the only source and norm of its doctrine, life and service. It sees in the three Ecumenical Creeds and in the Confessions of the Lutheran Church, especially in the unaltered Augsburg Confession and the Small Catechism of Martin Luther, a pure exposition of the Word of God.
Mission & Development: The vision of a communion in mission grows out of the understanding and firm belief that the church is missional. The reason for being the church is mission in a holistic form that encompasses proclamation, diakonia/service, advocacy for peace and justice, interfaith dialogue and care for creation. The following themes reflect the focus of DMD work:
Diakonia
Mission
Sustainable Development
HIV and AIDS
Human Rights and Advocacy
Communication
Theology & Studies: Theological work challenges churches to consider new questions and horizons of faithfulness in light of the biblical and confessional heritage we share.
General Secretary: General Secretary
Deputy General Secretary
Office of the Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs
Office for International Affairs and Human Rights
Office for Communication Services
Office for Finance and Administration
Office for Personnel
World Service – See next slide
