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Fall 2010. The Synod is “US”. Stories I have been sharing celebrating the Partnership. God’s Work, Our Hands. Global Mission-Living out the Great Commission. Church-Church relationships-75+ national churches in other countries LWF-140 churches in 79 countries International Disaster Haiti
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Fall 2010 The Synod is “US”
Global Mission-Living out the Great Commission Church-Church relationships-75+ national churches in other countries LWF-140 churches in 79 countries International Disaster Haiti Pakistan
Global Mission 750 global church leaders granted scholarships Health clinics, hospitals, HIV/AIDS, community development and education, Lutheran Malaria Initiative 260 persons serving in 50 countries
Chaplaincy Military-400 Active-Guard and Reserve Chaplain Mike Lemke, Ft. Hood, TX Hospital, Nursing Homes, Hospice Federal and State Prisons-100 (ELCA congregations inside prisons)
34 Grand Canyon Synod Candidates (avg. cost $29,000/yr) Synod Scholarship Reduction 2009-$45,000 2010-$15,000
Robert Smith-ELCA Global Mission-Europe/Middle East, Jill Rode (UofA, ASU) current seminarian 187 specific stand-alone sites on state and private colleges and universities (UofA, Tucson, ASU, Tempe and NAU, Flagstaff) 400 yoked to ELCA congregations (University, Tempe houses LCM-ASU)
A Church Poised for Mission 10,000+ potential mission outposts 18,000+ trained leaders 204 congregations under development (New Journey, Fountain Hills, Maricopa, Maricopa, La Primera, Mesa, Vida Nueva, Phoenix, La Sagrada, Phoenix, Oromo-LV, Chapel of Improvement, LV) 49 new starts 159 congregations involved in intentional renewal 1,530 ELCA early childhood centers-infant to age 5 267 K-8 schools
Mission Focus-Challenge Missional Leader’s Academy Ethnic specific Ministries: Latino Ethiopian Navajo African Refugees
73% International Hunger and relief and development 10% Hunger education and advocacy (Teri Traaen and Larry Struve) 10% Domestic Hunger work 7% Administration and Fund Development
Lutheran Social Services Nearly 300 Lutheran Social Ministry Organizations-Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest and Lutheran Social Services of Nevada 1 out of 50 Americans a beneficiary Single largest provider of social services in the U.S. Only the U.S. government does more
Mission Investment Fund 2010 19 Loans totaling $17, 807,803.14
ELCA Board of Pensions • Healthy Leaders • Major Medical/Disability/Retirement • Consulting/Coaching • Journey to Renewal Retreats • 2% Discount
Oversight and Accountability Mobility Process Roster Management Support when Misconduct occurs Conflict/Mediation support
Mission Interpretation/Planning/Resourcing Mission Consultation and Coordination Ecumenical Relationship-building Communication
What Does it Mean to Be Partners in Mission and Ministry?“God’s Work, Our Hands”
A Word of Thanks In Spite of: Post-CWA 2009 The Great Recession Changing Tides in the Religious Landscape Personal and Corporate challenges You and your congregation continue to model partnership-Thank you!
“And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given us” (Rom 5:3-5).
“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).
Partnership Constitutions state our interdepedent relationship Churchwide-Synod-Congregation
Statement of Purpose of the Synod S6.03 …, shall bear primary responsibility for the oversight of the life and mission of this church in the territory of this synod.
Statement of Purpose of Congregations C4.03.g. “Motivate it members to provide financial support for the congregation’s ministry and the ministry of other parts of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
The Pastor C9.03.c Every pastor shall: 4) endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the churchwide organization of the ELCA and the Grand Canyon Synod
Reasons People Give • Belief in the mission • Regard for staff • Fiscal responsibility
How To Decrease Funding • Send everyone a copy of the budget • Put giving statistics in the bulletin and/or newsletter each week • Believe that giving is between the giver and God • Keep giving records secret from the pastor and lay leaders • Discuss finances at one set time each year • Encourage support for the institutional church • Designate little for missions • Discourage designated giving and donor control • Talk about only giving to the church and not to those outside the church • Speak often of “loyalty and obligation” • Mail out statement no more than once a quarter and only to pledgers • Believe that members are giving the best they can • Do not discuss concrete giving to members until the annual campaign so as not to discourage them • Discourage planned giving so members don’t think you are eager for them to die or you don’t want to hurt annual giving • Put financial people in charge of controlling the funds to keep the church solvent • Have a stewardship Sunday each year Some of the above from: Creating a Climate for Giving, by Don Joiner
High Expectation Churches GROW Low Expectation Churches DIE
“This new face of American philanthropy is distinguished by an unprecedented level of competition for the charitable dollar. For well over 90% of all Christian congregations, …this means they will NOT be able to compete…” Lyle Schaller “The New Context for Ministry”
Two Messages To Raise Funds In The Church • We need money NOW! • We have a story to tell to the nations. You choose.
Questions What does it mean to be partners from your perspective? How does your congregation benefit from participating in partnership with the synod and churchwide organization? How do we improve our channels of communication to strengthen the relationships between the synod and local congregation?