Transcript Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran

STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOP
A Model for Discussion of Our Calling and Our Commitment
and for our wellbeing as stewards in service to God
Southwestern Washington Synod
of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
May 13 - 14, 2011
What is this workshop about?

Discipleship; but, also stewardship

This workshop is a 45-minute summary of a day-long (6 hours)
symposium

Based on a symposium conducted earlier this year at Mountain
View Lutheran Church - 2011 Symposium: The Aroma of Christ

The symposium is designed to lead members to an understanding
of:

o
Relevance of the Church of Today
o
Calling - Biblical Basis
o
Commitment to Service in the Kingdom of God
The symposium can be adapted to other formats
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How we did it!

Each session is 90 minutes: 30 - 40 minute lecture; 40 minute
round-table discussion; 10 – 20 minute group responses

Round-Table groups of 6 – 8 are established; they may remain
together for the three sessions

Discussion guide consisting of questions pertaining to the
session topic

A discussion leader/recorder may be designated in each group

Each group will be called upon to present their response

Emphasis is on the round-table discussions
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A Program Schedule

9:00 AM
Opening Worship

9:15 AM
Session 1: Relevance of The Church of Today

10:45 AM Break: Coffee & Pastry

11:00 AM Session 2: Calling - Biblical Basis

12:30 PM Lunch

1:00 PM Session 3: Commitment to Service in the
Kingdom of God

2:30 PM
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Closing Worship
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Clergy and Stewardship

Clergy must accept role of leadership for stewardship

Laity can not change attitudes for giving without the
chief shepherd leading them

Pastors need to know what their parishioners give:
o
Stewardship is a key spiritual practice
o
Sudden changes in giving may signal a need for pastoral
care
o
Indicator of commitment
o
Avenue for conversation between pastor and parishioner
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Session 1
Relevance of the Church of Today
Session 1: Relevance of the church today


Background - Christendom (the way it was)
o
Christian domination
o
Edict of Thessalonica in 392: Christianity as state religion of the
Roman Empire
o
Christendom continued in some form until mid-20th Century
The Church today in the post-Christendom
o
Europe
o
North America
o
Some remnants of Christendom remain, even today
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Session 1: Southwestern Washington Synod

Growing: 21 congregations with growth of 5% or more in
a five year period of 2004-2009

Stable: 22 with worship decline less than 5% or growth
no greater than 5%

Declining: 44 with worship decline greater than 5% in a
five year period

Total congregations measured : 87 (Does not include 3
new starts)
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Session 1: Vision for the Future

Douglas John Hall's vision of the church of the future
o
Let go of domination; we are not going to conquer the world
o
Christian disengagement of dominant culture is not abandonment - it is an
opportunity
o
Our role as Christians, as the people of the cross within the world, is precisely
what Jesus said it was to be: salt, yeast, and light
o
The object of God’s love, according to biblical faith, is not first of all the
church; it is the world: “16For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
o
A hospitality that loves and serves others, a stewardly hospitality, no strings
attached
The End Of Christendom and the Future of Christianity, Douglass John Hall
Why Christian?, Douglass John Hall
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Session 1: Vision for the church in the Future


The Missional Church
o
God ‘s mission in the world; missional church is a means of
fulfillment
o
Serves the neighbor: In the world; In the church
What motivates people to give?
o
Secular nonprofits succeed because they tell donors what they do
to change lives; churches tend not to do that
o
Pastors and leaders need to ask for gifts by first providing a vision
of what the gift will do to change people's lives in Christ
Not Your Parent’s Offering Plate, Clif Christopher
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Discussion Guide. Session 1: Relevance of the
Church Today?

From the group's combined perspective, describe the current position of
the Christian Church in America.

Can we reverse the current decline from the dominance that church once
had?

Describe how the Church is, or is not relevant to people in America

Describe how the Church can survive, or why it will not survive in America

Describe what your church could do to be salt, yeast and light– to be a
missional church

What does our Church do now to bring change to people's lives in Christ
and what other things should we be doing?

Is it enough to survive, or is there something else we should be doing?

How can we articulate what we are already doing that changes people’s
lives in Christ – is this how we describe it in the annual budget?
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Session 2
Calling – Biblical Basis
Session 2: Calling

Biblical accounts of calling:
o
Moses: Exodus 3: “10So come, I will send you to Pharaoh
to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”
o
Paul: Acts 9: 3Now as he was going along and approaching
Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around
him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to
him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5He asked,
“Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and
you will be told what you are to do.”
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Session 2: Baptismal Calling

What are we called to do as a result of our baptism?

Romans 6:
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may
abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3Do you
not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism
into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the
Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Galatians 3:
25But
now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a
disciplinarian,26for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.27As
many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
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Session 2: ELCA Statement on Christian Calling

The Baptismal Vocation of Christians [ELCA Social
Statement, The Church In Society: A Lutheran
Perspective]
One of the ways the Church participates in society is through its
members. In dying to sin and rising with Christ in Baptism, Christians
are called to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:1-11). They fulfill
their baptismal vocation in ordinary life as family members, friends,
citizens, workers, and participants in voluntary associations. Since
“daily life [is] the primary setting for the exercise of [the] Christian
calling,” it is in that setting that Christians are to serve God and
neighbor.
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Session 2: Steward’s Calling?

Our calling for lives as stewards:
o

Ephesians 2: 8 – 10 8For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9not the result of
works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are what he has made us,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand to be our way of life.
How do we respond to our calling as stewards? Or do we
respond?
o
We seem to be busy people?
o
Competing priorities?
o
Competing idolatries?
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Discussion Guide. Session 2: Calling

If not by God speaking to us directly, how are we called
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Do we really attempt to discern our calling?
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How do we respond to our calling? Or do we not
respond?
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Have we been called as a part of our baptism? To do
what?
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How do we hear our call?

What sorts of things get in the way?
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Session 3
Commitment to Service in the Kingdom of God
SALT
YEAST
LIGHT
Session 3: Texts On Generous Giving

New Testament? No References to tithing, per se; concept of
tithing is not “new covenant”

Abundance of text on generous giving and caring for others:
o
For as in one body we have many parts. Romans 12: 4-8
o
For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to
take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be
content with that. 1 Timothy 6: 7-10
o
Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready
to share. 1 Timothy 6: 17-19
o
If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and
refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?
Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.
1 John 3: 17-18
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Session 3: Texts On Generous Giving (Continued)
o
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The Good Samaritan: “30Jesus replied, “A man was going
down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of
robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away,
leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going
down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on
the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the
place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a
Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he
saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and
bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on
them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to
an inn, and took care of him. ” - Luke 10: 30-34
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Session 3: Growth in Commitment
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Missional Church
o
Serves the neighbor
o
Sees itself doing God’s work
o
People commit to those things that will change people’s lives in Christ
Mountain View Community Center/Food Bank
o
In 2010 we served 8,345 families and 34,266 individuals
o
Our average number of families we serve each week is about 180
o
1st Annual Back-To-School BBQ & Health Fair August 21, 2010
• 700 people attended our event
• 350 backpacks
• Free haircuts for students
• Free school clothes
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Discussion Guide. Session 3: Commitment

What is the most important thing to have for a strong
and committed congregation?

What are some other things?

Where have we seen commitment in our congregation?
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Where has it been lacking?
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What can we do as a congregation to grow in
commitment?

What can we do as a congregation to be a missional
church?
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Summary



The three sessions of this symposium are:
o
Relevance of the church today
o
Calling
o
Commitment
This symposium is intended to:
o
Educate members on their responsibility as stewards and on the missional
church
o
Cause members to think about their calling to serve and the extent to
which they may be responding as a committed steward
Presentation materials available to download on the Synod website at:
http://www.lutheranssw.org/, select Resources & Links; Synod
Documents; Stewardship Resources or simply enter the following URL
http://www.lutheranssw.org/?page_id=166
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