In late 2018 and early 2019, faculty and staff teams from Luther Seminary visited a dozen ELCA synods across the United States to listen to local pastors, lay leaders, and synodical staff. The purpose was simple: to discover what Christian leaders need to know, or know how to do, to be faithful and effective in changing ministry contexts.<\/p>\n
The visits were coordinated through the innovation team, a cross-disciplinary group of faculty and staff whose focus is accompanying churches and their leaders to discover how to address the challenges of forming Christian identity and practice in today\u2019s world. The team is headed by Dwight Zscheile \u201908 Ph.D.<\/strong>, vice president of innovation. \u201cInnovation starts with listening,\u201d Zscheile said.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore you can know how to help, you have to have a deep understanding of the challenges facing those you serve\u2014in this case, Christian communities and their leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n On synod visits, teams consisting of one faculty member and one staff member toured congregations, ministry sites, and neighborhoods to see firsthand what\u2019s happening in the church in rural, urban, and suburban settings.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a rewarding experience,\u201d said Professor of Systematic Theology Lois Malcolm \u201989 M.A.<\/strong>, who visited the Eastern North Dakota Synod with Vice President of Seminary Relations Heidi Droegemueller<\/strong>. \u201cMeeting the pastors and congregation members brought our work into sharper focus and made it come alive in deeper ways.\u201d<\/p>\n The innovation team evaluated this qualitative research alongside other data collected through surveys on congregational vitality and learning communities. A clear picture emerged of seven key themes that churches and their leaders must learn to address in order to thrive in the 21st century.<\/p>\n In a culture in which Christian faith is no longer assumed, leaders and congregations need a Christ-centered identity, embodied in a life of discipleship and nourished through spiritual practice.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d be surprised at how many leaders, not just lay members, struggle with this,\u201d said Michael Binder \u201917 Ph.D.<\/strong>, affiliate faculty member in congregational mission and leadership. \u201cIn our work, it\u2019s becoming increasingly clear that in vibrant congregations there\u2019s a sense of deep connection with God and neighbor that leads to a willingness to grow spiritually and risk changing. Where church affiliation is about social, cultural, or political affinity, there\u2019s a lack of urgency.\u201d<\/p>\n The polarization of contemporary society came up again and again as a source of concern for congregants and leaders. Congregations must learn how to form Christian communities across cultural, social, generational, and political differences. This happens as communities are willing to meet people where they are and enter into intentional practices of mutual listening, relationship-building, and reconciliation.<\/p>\n Many congregations struggle to innovate because they fear letting go of cherished traditions. But faithful innovation is not about change for its own sake. It\u2019s about being willing to adapt practices to better serve a world in which cultural and social norms are shifting. Congregations need a vibrant spiritual and theological purpose that frees them to experiment.<\/p>\n 10 a.m. on Sunday is still among the most segregated times of the week in many North American communities.<\/p>\n To connect across multiple dimensions of diversity, congregations need an intentional commitment to intercultural competency, engagement in the local neighborhood, and an ongoing practice of listening, presence, and mutual welcome.<\/p>\n In many churches, there is an expectation that professional clergy will perform ministry for the people rather than equip all people for ministry. Laypeople need opportunities to develop as disciples, ministers, and leaders.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of the most hope-filled sites we visited don\u2019t rely on professional clergy,\u201d said Paul Hanson \u201989 M.Div.<\/strong>, a Luther Seminary philanthropic advisor and innovation team member. \u201cOther effective congregations focus on multiplying lay leaders, not for committee work but for front-line ministry in the church and world.\u201d<\/p>\n As church participation declines, many churches are experimenting with new organizational models and alternative sources of income beyond congregational giving. This includes starting, tending, and managing entrepreneurial ways of financing ministry. For example, Grace Church in Nampa, Idaho, has an Etsy shop called Threads of Grace where it sells hand-stitched stoles to clergy around the world. The fabric and labor are donated, and all proceeds fund the church\u2019s ministries.<\/p>\n Lack of training in administrative leadership creates frustration for leaders and those they serve, while skilled leadership empowers ministry. Leaders need to be trained in organizational leadership, management, and administration for a 21st-century world.Our listening partners<\/h2>\n
\n
1. Deepen Christian identity and practice<\/h2>\n
2. Cultivate community<\/h2>\n
3. Innovate faithfully<\/h2>\n
4. Connect with diverse neighbors<\/h2>\n
5. Equip the saints<\/h2>\n
6. Shift ministry models<\/h2>\n
7. Improve administrative leadership<\/h2>\n
\n\u201cThese themes will guide all our innovation work at Luther Seminary,\u201d said Zscheile. \u201cAnd there\u2019s more to come! As our listening to the church deepens, we expect to learn more about what it means to educate leaders for Christian communities in the coming months and years.\u201d<\/p>\n