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What is the church
The document outlines the structure of the church from the local congregation level up to the global Lutheran World Federation. It discusses how the local congregation is involved in worship, education, and community outreach. It then explains that congregations are part of a larger synod and denomination called the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which undertakes efforts in global mission, publishing, and resources. At the highest level, the Lutheran World Federation acts as a communion of 140 member churches across 79 countries seeking to serve the needs of its nearly 69 million members worldwide.
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What is the church
- 2.
- 3. The Church! congregation Word &Sacraments Sunday School Food Shelf WELCA Youth Group
- 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 EvangelicalLutheran Church in America Churchwide SynodCongregation Word & Sacraments Global Mission Hunger Publishing Resources Organization Word & Sacraments Global Mission Hunger Publishing Resources Organization
- 6. Keeps 97% Gives Away3% Keeps 53% Gives Away 47%
- 8. Lutheran World Federation ACommunion of Communities 140 member churches 79 Countries 68.9 million members
- 10. LWF World Service $80.1 Million& Thousands of Staff
- 11.
Editor's Notes
- #2 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.
- #3 Title Slide
- #4 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.
- #5 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?
- #6 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
- #7 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
- #10 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.
- #11 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