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Document Sample
Living Into the
Future Together
LIFT process
• March, 2009 – Appointment of study design
group
• November, 2009 – Task Force constituted
• January, 2010 – Task Force work begins:
research, reporting, feedback and writing
• March, 2011 – Report to ELCA Church Council
• April, 2011 – Council receives report, and
refers recommendations and preparation of
implementing resolutions to writing team
• August, 2011 – Churchwide Assembly action
• November, 2011 – Appointment of LIFT
Advisory Committee
“The Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America is an
ecology of interdependent
ecosystems.”
- Craig Dykstra
Senior Vice President, Religion
Lilly Endowment
Ecology
• Greek “oikos” = household
• Greek “logos” = word or
message
Changes in church environment
• explosion of knowledge
• technology, electronic communication
• networking
• institutional change
• globalization, mobility
• religious, cultural, racial diversity
• diminished loyalty to denominations
• “spiritual but not religious”
Task Force charter
“…..to evaluate the organization and
governance of this church and the
interrelationships among its
expressions and partner agencies and
institutions for the purpose of bringing
a comprehensive report and
recommendations to the 2011 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly.”
Task Force purpose
... position the ELCA for the future
and explore new possibilities for
participating in God’s mission.
What is God calling this
church to be and do?
What changes are in order
to help us respond most
faithfully?
LIFT Task Force focus areas
• ELCA Identity
• Opportunities for the future
• Interrelationships: congregations,
synods, the churchwide
organization, institutions,
agencies, global partners,
ecumenical partners and full
communion partners
• Sustainability
• Structure and governance
The LIFT conversation
• 2010 Synod Assemblies
• Surveys
• Interviews
• Forums
• Focus groups
• Feedback
Factors impacting congregations
(Combined Lay Leader and Clergy Reports)
negative impact no impact positive impact
ethnic changes in the local
8% 74% 17%
community
competition from other local
35% 58% 8%
congregations
conflict in the congregation 45% 44% 10%
changes in patterns of
29% 39% 32%
participation among lay leaders
commitment to evangelism or
8% 38% 54%
outreach
changes in the quality of
18% 33% 49%
pastoral leadership
Churchwide Assembly action on
57% 30% 13%
the sexuality statement
changes in the religious climate
64% 26% 10%
of American society
changes in the culture of
66% 24% 10%
American society
economic changes in the local
68% 20% 12%
community
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Source: LIFT/Ecology Task Force Clergy and Lay Leader Questionnaire,
2010.
Prepared by Research and Evaluation, ELCA, 2010.
“Is there anything unique about ELCA Lutherans that distinguishes
them from other Christians?”
clergy no, 10% yes, 83% unsure, 7%
lay no, 31% yes, 32% unsure, 37%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Source: LIFT/Ecology Task Force Clergy and Lay Leader Questionnaire,
2010.
Prepared by Research and Evaluation, ELCA, 2010.
Relative impact of factors on connectedness to the wider
church for clergy (Beta values)
reading The Lutheran or
other ELCA publication
a shared stand on social
issues
attending a synod or a
churchwide assembly
financial support
received from the wider
church a relationship or
experience with the
synod or churchwide
bishop
a shared theology
Source: LIFT/Ecology Task Force Clergy and Lay Leader Questionnaire,
2010.
Prepared by Research and Evaluation, ELCA, 2010.
Relative impact of factors on connectedness to the wider
church for lay leaders (Beta values)
common forms of
worship and music
a shared stand on social
issues
a shared theology
Source: LIFT/Ecology Task Force Clergy and Lay Leader Questionnaire,
2010.
Prepared by Research and Evaluation, ELCA, 2010.
LIFT report recommendations
1. Congregations as centers of mission
2. Support for congregations as one of the highest
priorities of this church
3. Leadership development and support
4. Strengthened relations with global companions and
ecumenical partners based on the model of
accompaniment
5. Strengthened existing relationships in this church
6. Nurture of a culture of discernment
7. “Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions”
amendments that support this church’s focus on
mission
8. Patterns of giving that promote financial sustainability
9. Ongoing work on the LIFT recommendations
and implementing resolutions
Assembly actions
1. Make support for the work of congregations
one of the highest priorities of this church. To
request congregations, in collaboration with
synods, to begin, develop, renew or redefine
their unique mission plans by the end of 2012,
so each congregation strengthens its
capabilities and resources for witness and
mission.
2. Support and strengthen synods so they become
catalysts for mission planning.
3. Request the Conference of Bishops, in consultation with
synod leaders and the churchwide organization, to prepare
a report and recommendations for the November 2012
Church Council meeting for consideration by the 2013
ELCA Churchwide Assembly that includes:
• patterns of synodical life that support vital congregations,
mission growth and outreach;
• a process that allows synods to receive and distribute
financial resources to support the whole ministry of this
church;
• recommendations for renewed, sustainable financial
support for the mission and ministries of this church,
including funding for theological education;
• strategies for increased mission vitality (may include
consideration of redrawing synod boundaries);
• revisions of constitutional responsibilities of bishops and
synods to emphasize synods as catalysts for mission in the
changing context and culture.
4. Urge regions to expand their roles as centers for
exploring the possibilities of cooperative mission and
ministry.
5. Affirm the role of the churchwide organization to:
• accompany congregations and synods;
• build the capacity for evangelical witness and service;
• continue to build and strengthen mutual and interdependent
relationships;
• model and promote the vision of a multicultural, multi-ethnic
church;
• coordinate this church’s global mission and its international
development and relief work;
• lead its theological reflection and deliberation on identity and
mission; and
• explore opportunities to grow current support, including direct
appeals, planned giving, and endowment management, in
collaboration with the Conference of Bishops, synod leaders,
and the Church Council.
6. Encourage the development of leaders for this church
through increased innovation and collaboration in
leadership development, faith formation and theological
education.
7. Build and strengthen relationships with this church’s
global companions and ecumenical partners, focusing on
accompaniment, mutual growth, capacity-building and
sustainability of relationships.
8. Support and utilize networking as an organizational
principle and practice that embodies interdependence,
values the abundant human resources found in
congregations, synods, the churchwide expression, and
institutions of this church, and enhances increased
collaboration and connections for mission purposes across
this church.
9. Nurture a culture of faithful discernment that contributes
to mutual respect and healthy decision-making in all
assemblies, councils, committees, small groups, and
meetings in congregations, synods, the churchwide
expression, institutions and agencies.
10. Endorse the proposed amendments to the “Constitution,
Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions” concerning the
Churchwide Assembly, Church Council, Conference of
Bishops, program committees and interrelationships and
networks.
• Move to a triennial Churchwide Assembly
• Expand the Church Council to represent
additional constituencies
• Strengthen the role of Conference of
Bishops
• Eliminate program committees relating to
units and seek new ways to receive
grassroots input and share information
• Facilitate the development of networks
2011 Churchwide Assembly action re: review
process of procedures for development and
adoption of social statements
• November 2011 – Church Council
action for formation of “Addressing
Social Concerns Review Task Force”
• Review completed and report brought
to fall 2012 Church Council meeting
and 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
• Process for developing social
statements already in development
continues
2011 Churchwide Assembly action: To provide a
means to continue the work assigned to the LIFT
task force:
• Facilitate a review of constitutional responsibilities
of synods to continue and increase their role as
catalysts for mission planning;
• Facilitate a broad-based process addressing
legislative decision-making in this church;
• Initiate a process to expand the consultative role of
the Conference of Bishops that allows the Church
Council to refer issues to it and enables the
Conference of Bishops to make recommendations to
the Church Council; and
• Explore the use of social media and technology to
allow greater participation of ELCA members in
meetings of the Church Council and Churchwide
Assembly.
Continuing work of LIFT
• Create collaborative work … to create and support
diverse non-legislative forums and events that bring
together leaders to address missional issues,
participate in theological study and reflection, foster
leadership development, and enhance
interdependence of this church.
• Request units of the churchwide organization to
propose to the Church Council ways of receiving
grassroots input and disseminating information using
emerging forms of communication, taking care to
include those engaged in multicultural, ethnic-
specific, justice for women ministries, youth and
young adult networks, and various ministry partners.
• Present annual reports to the Church Council
through 2013.
What do these actions mean for
congregations and synods?
Congregational
Vitality
• Congregations are vital centers of
mission in their communities
• Word and sacrament, making
disciples, forming faith, living out
vocation through witness and
addressing social concerns
• Vitality is seen in relationships of
members with God, each other,
and the world
Potential strategies:
• Congregations engage in
missional planning based on each
congregation’s unique identity and
community context
• Utilize resources of synod
through bishop, director for
evangelical mission, various
resource models, and planning
and partnership with other area
congregations
Questions:
• How can we spend more time and
resources for the strengthening of
congregations for health and vitality?
• How do congregations support each
other and share wisdom and strategies?
• How can we engage the expertise and
resources of partners in outdoor
ministry, campus ministry,
colleges/universities, seminaries and
agencies?
Leadership
Development and
Support
• Lay and rostered leaders have
strong understandings of
Scripture, theology, work of
wider church and vocation.
• Leaders are connected to each
other.
• Leaders are equipped.
Potential strategies:
• Educate rostered clergy and lay leaders, lay
leaders, and congregations about effective
leadership and healthy partnerships.
• Model healthy partnerships in synod leadership.
• Identify, lift up, train and support leaders,
especially racially and ethnically diverse
members.
• Partner in new ways with seminaries, colleges,
universities and networks for the sake of
expanded leader development.
• Explore additional or new resources for support
in times of conflict, call and transition.
Questions:
• What are examples of strong lay/clergy and lay
rostered partnerships within the synod?
• How are leaders identified, lifted up and
supported in congregations and synod
ministries?
• What opportunities for networking can be
strengthened or created?
• How can we better leverage the expertise and
resources of partners in our territory?
• How are leaders held accountable? How can we
hold each other accountable?
Synodical
Capacity
• Synods are vital centers for mission
that include many partners (synod
council, synod bishop and synod
ministers, congregations, ministry
partners).
• Each has and owns a sense of purpose.
• Each contributes to their role, supports
and holds others accountable.
Potential strategies:
• Clarify sense of mission through synodwide
processes
• Review organizational structures and
relationships
• Determine if some activities should stop so new
priorities may be initiated
• Develop networks around priorities and
interests
• Develop covenants of accountability
• Find new ways to collaborate with partners
Questions:
• What does the word “synod” mean to
us?
• What are the relationships between the
synod, congregations and ministry
partners?
• How can congregations and ministry
partners be more connected with one
another?
• Where does our synod spend the
majority of its time and energy?
What do these actions mean for
congregations and synods?
• Creating, building and
strengthening connections,
interrelationships, collaboration,
partnerships and networks
• Congregational vitality as God
calls into mission in particular
contexts
• Synods as catalysts
• Leadership development and
support
We are an ecology of
interdependent relationships
In Holy Baptism the Triune God
• brings us into community with
God
• brings us into community with
one another
Together, the church is
• an assembly of saints
• a community of mutual
conversation and consolation
• an inclusive fellowship – local
congregations yet spanning the
globe
• interdependent
The Triune God
sends the church
Discussion questions
Living into the Future Together:
Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA
(LIFT)
1. What do you believe God is calling your congregation
to be and do in your community? Has your
congregation developed a mission plan for following
that call?
2. Could you see your congregation joining together with
other congregations in your community to develop and
carry out a mission plan in your community? How could
joining together be helpful? How could your synod
assist your congregation’s planning?
Discussion questions
Living into the Future Together:
Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA
(LIFT)
3. How does your congregation use social media like
Facebook to help people connect with one another? Do
you think using social media like Facebook could be
helpful in connecting people with one another?
4. Congregations are being encouraged to form and
participate in networks within and across your synod
that will engage more people in creative approaches to
ministry. In what kinds of networks are you already a
part? In what kinds of networks can you imagine
participating?
Living Into the
Future Together
