Study guide
Leaders: Those under 40 T
he ELCA is showing its age, as membership and lead- ership tend to be older than the population at large. Though our overall church culture may be behind
the times, younger leaders are helping show us the way forward.
Exercise 1: Inspiration From art to poetry to government service, the 10 leader
profiles in the cover article illustrate many “outside the box” ideas and interests for ministry. Whose profile did you find most inspiring or interesting? Why? On newsprint or a whiteboard, list the ministry interests
or ideas from all the profiles that members of your study group found most creative, most “out there,” most innovative, most appealing and most likely to grow or energize a congre- gation. Now go through the list and identify the ministries or ideas that would meet the needs of your congregation. How could your congregation begin working with them?
Exercise 2: Aging members Among ELCA members between 15 and 99 years old,
the median age is 58, compared to 39 for the same segment of the country as a whole, according to a 2008 ELCA study (latest figures available). Discuss: • What do you see as significant differences between people 58 and people 39 in attitude, worldview, values, lifestyle and other areas?
• When median membership of a church is 20 years older than the general population, what are the implications for church life? What are the generational disconnects in worship style, music preference, communications, rela- tionship to technology, lifestyle, expectations, spiritual- ity, community and other areas?
• Does this age difference make it harder for churches to attract younger people? What can be done?
Exercise 3: Changing needs • What are the biggest changes our culture has seen in the last 40 years in such areas as economics, values, attitudes, family life, politics and religion?
• Has our church culture changed accordingly? • What are the most important needs your congregation
This study guide excerpt is offered as one example of the more than 400 that are currently available on The Lutheran’s website. Download guides (including a longer version of this one)—free to print and Web subscribers —at
www.thelutheran.org (click “study guides”).
22
www.thelutheran.org
By Robert C. Blezard
is dealing with today? How many result from the church not having changed with our general culture?
• How are the young leaders profiled in the magazine addressing those needs? • What can we learn?
Exercise 4: Aging leadership A disproportionate number of ELCA clergy are near or
past age 65 (see “Get set for clergy retirement wave,” The Lutheran, November 2014). • What are the best gifts these long-serving pastors bring to our congregations and denomination?
• What can they teach younger leaders? • What approaches in mission and ministry can they learn from younger leaders?
• Why is our church stronger with a mix of younger and older leaders?
Exercise 5: Emphases Younger church leaders are pioneering in three general
areas (listed on page 16). • What does it mean for congregations when leaders have a vocational identity rooted in community, both within and outside of church? To what degree is this missing in your congregation and our denomination? What can be learned?
• In a ministry context, what is an emphasis on social jus- tice and how is it evidenced? In what ways is social jus- tice deeply rooted in the gospel? What Scriptures come to mind? Why is it essential to vital, growing ministry? If social justice needs more emphasis in your congrega- tion, what can be done?
• Does your congregation reflect the diversity of your wider community in race, age, gender identity and other factors? Is it important for the church to be diver- sified? What fac- tors may have led some churches to remain homo- geneous in a diversifying cul- ture? What are younger leaders doing that we can learn?
Author bio: Blezard is an assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. He has a master of divinity degree from Boston University and did subsequent study at the
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52