All Shepherds Lutheran Church

We have had intense discussions over the past several months about our Youth Ministry program, our leadership in that program, and as to whether or not we could afford someone full time to lead it. Opinions for both continuing and reducing have been strongly expressed. That is good! Passionate people are strong people who willingly express their passion. In 2006 after several years of volunteer leadership, we made a decision to call a staff person to develop this ministry. We began as a part-time position and over time expanded it to full time because we believed investing time and effort and energy in our youth is an important part of our ministry. If we judge our effectiveness in ministering to youth on the basis of numbers at any single event, we might come to the conclusion that our return on our investment is ineffective. If we judge it on the basis of relationships with our youth then we might come to the conclusion that our return on our investment is effective. It all depends on your perspective, and whether or not you our young person has a relationship with the leader. In trying to understand the character of youth ministry, several leaders in other places have offered a description. I am sharing just one of those with this blog.

“Youth Ministry is NOT a 9-5, it's a 24-7. It is the Church of today, and the commitment that the church will stand tomorrow. It is church to those you'll never reach in your Sanctuary. It's missions to those who think they're just having a good time. It's your congregation living vicariously as the active hands and feet of Christ through the community. It is an unconditional love for the community of believers who are so often "tossed aside." They are more real than our dreams and live in a time where if you don't exist for them, they WILL NOT seek it out themselves. That's why 24/7 means the world. It's the text message at 2am from the girl down the street you've never met who's about to cut, and it's the 12pm take you away from your work to talk about family fueds that remind you of how important your time and purpose is here.
“Most of all, Youth Ministry is not your budget being cut, not your mess ups, liars, uncommitted or "play time". Because when the church decides and understands its value in the lives of young disciples, your church will never stop reaching out to those in need of a Savior.
“Youth Ministry: Your time invested now is your congregation tomorrow.”
- Derek Free, Chillicothe, OH

Your thoughts and ideas are welcome as we journey together faithfully.

We are now in the Season of Lent in our church liturgical year. It, like all the other seasons, comes around every year as the 40 days preceding Easter. We have always seen this period as a time of reflection, self-examination, repentance and commitment to renewal of our values, principles, and behaviors that most express those. It is Lent again, a re-presenting of the need for reflection, a re-Lenting in order to regard our condition, regenerate our commitments, refocus our behaviors, retrace our faith walk, and release the power of God in our lives anew. Each Wednesday In Lent, we will gather as a community of God's people at 6:15 pm for a light supper of soup, and then get together for devotional experiences focusing on the objects of cruelty at the crucifixion of Jesus. Experience Lent anew and expect to grow in your faith and discipleship.

Someone asked me the other day what our Church (All Shepherds) felt about the actions taken at the ELCA Assembly in Minneapolis last month.  Fact is as a Church (All Shepherds) there is no one discernible feeling.  We are a diverse gathering of people of faith.  My strong sense is that we have lots of different feelings ranging from good to bad, from satisfaction to disappointment, from joy to sadness, from healing to hurt.   What the assembly vote represents is the complexity of the feelings that existed within the task group that developed the social statement on human sexuality, the complexity of feelings that existed among the voting members at the assembly, and the complexity of feelings across the landscape of our member congregations, pastors, bishops, and partners in ministry and mission.  The Assembly did not condemn nor condone same-gender relationships.  Any judgment about those relationships remains the pervue of God.  The Assembly did allow that same-gender relationships can exist within the clergy and their gifts for ministry are available for call to a Word and Sacrament ministry office.   

 In the social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust", which the Assembly adopted by a 2/3 majority, it is clearly stated that "the Lutheran confessions have recognized marriage as a covenant between a man and woman,".....   We also read, "this church also acknowledges that consensus does not exist concerning how to regard same-gender committed relationships, even after many years of thoughtful, respectful, and faithful study and conversation.  We do not have agreement on whether this church should honor these relationships, uplift, shelter, and protect them or on precisely how it is appropriate to do so.   In response, this church draws on the foundational Lutheran understanding that the baptized are called to discern God's love in service to the neighbor.  In our Christian freedom, we therefore seek responsible actions that serve others and do so with humility and deep respect for the conscience-bound beliefs of others.  We understand that, in this discernment about ethics and church practice, faithful people can and will come to different conclusions about the meaning of Scripture and about what constitutes responsible action.  We further believe that this church, on the basis of "the bound conscience", will include these different understandings and practices within its life as it seeks to live out its mission and ministry in the world." 

 "Although at this time this church lacks consensus on this matter, it encourages all people to live out their faith in the local and global community of the baptized with profound respect for the conscience-bound belief of the neighbor.  This church calls for mutual respect in relationships and for guidance that seeks the good of each individual and of the community.  Regarding our life together as we live with disagreement, the people in this church will continue to accompany one another in study, prayer, discernment, pastoral care, and mutual respect." 

Finally in the social statement we read: "This statement responds to this church's call for a foundational framework that will help it discern what it means faithfully to follow God's law of love in the increasingly complex sphere of human sexuality.  It does not offer once-for-all answers to contemporary questions.................It seeks to describe the social realities of this age and to address them pastorally." 

The discussion and debate over these matters at the Assembly was respectful, prayerful, and dignified.  I would expect our conversations to be so, too.