Colleague Conversations in Mission District
Groupings
2007 Conference on Ministry
Bishop Ed Benoway
Kenneth Inskeep, ELCA Research and Evaluation
Tammy
Jackson, ELCA Synodical Relations
At the 2007 Conference on Ministry, rostered leaders were invited to meet with the bishop and a team from churchwide offices to engage in conversations about personal ministry passions and struggles, congregational passions and struggles, and synodical accomplishments and limitations. The rostered leaders were provided note cards on which to record their thoughts and were invited also to share some of their responses in the groups.
The percentages in each category, based on the total number responses made for that category, were presented in a separate table. Only areas within a category that total five percent or more of the responses are reported.
The Rostered
Leaders’ Ministry Passion
The ministry passions of these rostered leaders were quite diverse. This means that no particular passion received a large percentage of the responses. A passion for worship and leadership development received a total 12 percent each of the total number of responses, followed by preaching at 10 percent of the total number of responses in this category.
The Rostered
Leaders’ Ministry Struggle
‘Not having enough time’ was the one struggle identified by the most rostered leaders at 19 percent of the total responses for the category. Administration was second at 14 percent of the responses.
* * * * *
The
Congregation’s Ministry Passion
According to the rostered leaders, their congregations are most passionate about worship with 18 percent of the total responses in this category. Once again, however, there was no single area with a high percentage of responses. Worship was followed by fellowship with 16 percent of the responses and caring for others with 15 percent of the responses.
The
Congregation’s Struggle
Stewardship or financial issues were indicated by the most rostered leaders as their congregation’s primary struggle with 28 percent of the responses followed by evangelism and outreach at 22 percent of the responses.
* * * * *
The Synod’s
Accomplishment
Resourcing congregations and supporting leaders was cited by the most rostered leaders as the synod’s most recognizable accomplishment with 30 percent of the responses within the category.
The Synod’s
Limitations
The size of the synod and the difficulty of building relationships between clergy and congregations over a large geographic area were identified by the most rostered leaders as the synod’s most significant limitations. Thirty-four percent of the responses cited the size of the synod.
* * * * *
Conclusions
There was considerable diversity in the responses on the cards. Ministry passions were diverse as were the passions of congregations. In one sense, this diversity is good and appropriate but, on the other hand, if the synod is intent on setting a specific direction based on a shared passion for mission outreach and evangelizing among the clergy and the congregations, there will need to be significant work to establish support for such a shared direction.
It was also clear that many of the rostered leaders believe their congregations are struggling financially. And, many of these congregations are also struggling with evangelism and outreach.
A significant number of rostered leaders pointed to resourcing congregations and supporting leaders as an accomplishment of the synod but a slightly greater number felt that the size of the synod made it difficult to build relationships. This is a challenge faced by many synods in a time when developing and maintaining relationships between clergy and congregations seems to be particularly important. If the synod is to create and sustain relationships among rostered leaders and congregations, as well as establishing stronger relationships between the bishop and his staff with rostered leaders and congregations, it will need to be a primary focus of all synod work.