Network Blog

Dear friends,

By now, I'm guessing that most of you have heard about the deep programmatic and staff cuts at the ELCA.  If you haven't you can read the Bishop's release of the information here. 

Much conversation has happened in the blogosphere about these cuts.  The causes...the implications...the statements that may or not be made by these cuts... There will be plenty of time for analysis, and ultimately, it is not our speculation that will count, but rather the actions and directions that the churchwide organization will make in the future.

At this point, we still grieve the loss of positions for 65 people, and for those who work in the ELCA offices.  I was in Chicago for meetings last week, and the sense of sadness in the building was palpable.  Please continue to keep all of these people in your prayers.

I do want to answer one set of questions that I've heard:

• What does this mean for the Network?
• Is the Extravaganza still on for Kansas City?
• What's the future of the Network?
• Can we survive the financial cuts?

I appreciate the questions.  It affirms that people care about this Network and its future. 

While the cuts in Chicago are going to have an impact on the Network, that future is still unclear.  We don't know the implications in terms of budget or financial support yet, and we won't for awhile.  but here's the reality:  The financial support that the Network has received from the ELCA has been diminishing for years.  At one time we received $50,000 in support for the Network and the Extravganza.  This year, the ELCA has committed to $10,000 (before the cuts last week). 

A $10,000 cut would be difficult to absorb; but it is survivable. 

My bigger fear is what these cuts mean to the way our relationship with the ELCA is played out.  the questions we would need to answer include (but aren't limited to):

• What would a financial cut mean about the role and importance of the Network in the life of the denomination?
• What about the role of the ELCA Director of Youth MInistry sitting ex-officio on the Network Board?
• What about the column in the "Connect Journal?"

And on a bigger scale?

• What does the cuts of these youth ministry positions (3 programmatic and 2 support staff) in the ELCA in the last year say about the commitment of the church to youth ministry?

I don't have answers to these questions yet.  It's possible that since the ELCA can "do less" with staff that they might ask synods and the Network to do more.  These are all questions we are asking.  And we are patient, because we know that it's too early to know.  It'll be awhile. 

But I want our members to know 2 things:
1. We are asking these questions.  We are thinking about the future.  And;
2. For the moment, we are stable.  The Extravaganza is "on."  The Connect Journal is in the mail, and new stuff is in the works.  We're moving into the future, secure in the belief that God is calling us into a future that God securely holds.

One more thing: (though it's not a "Network thing")  Some have asked about the future of the ELCA Youth Gathering. 

The word is out that the ELCA Youth Gathering is secure.  While the cuts in the ELCA might mean some shifts for how some parts of the Gathering are staffed, the Gathering itself is "self-funded" by the event registrations.  The Gathering is "on" for 2012.  I just returned from a planning meeting with Gathering managers and team leaders last week, and while more information will be coming out in upcoming months, largely through the Gathering web site and the Gathering Facebook page, I'm really excited about the direction of the event.  It is going to be an amazing gift to our young people and the church!

Blessings,
Todd.

The dust has settled, literally and figuratively on the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans last month.  This was the 8th ELCA Youth Gathering that I have been blessed to be a part of.  I had two angles of vision on the Gathering.

1.  Working with the Network on the Adult Academy.
2.  My congregational group who participated in the event.

There are people I know who refuse to participate in the Gathering.  15 years ago, I understood their arguments.  Now, I've found that most of the reasons why they don't participate have faded away as the event has continued to get better and better.

Don't get me wrong...it's not perfect...it's not the ultimate event.  However, it's good.  Really really good.  One of our vendor friends who comes from a different denominational tradition than us was present at this year's event.  His response?  Speechless.  He could come up with no words to define how good he thought the event was.  He said that when his denomination does a churchwide youth gathering, they get maybe 5000 people present.  He couldn't begin to fathom an event where over 39k people were "in the house."

Sometimes, when you live with it...when you grow up with it...you take it for granted and forget how good it is.

The highlight this year was the day of service.  No question.  That was the piece that everyond has been sweating over for the last 18 months and the pressure was on.  In all honesty, if that day didn't work, the young people's experiences were seriously in jeopardy. 

A significant hat tip to the Servant Learning crew who made it all happen.  They would prefer if I didn't name names...but you know who you are.  On behalf of all of us who were skeptical...we're sorry.  On behalf of all of us who had young people participate...thank you.  It was a great day. 

This event brought together the church in a way that can only happen in this event.  (Don't we all just wish that the churchwide assembly would be this much fun?)  This event harnessed the power of the church...the power of the community...the power of the Holy Spirit to DO something in Jesus' name.  Did we change the world?  That corner of it, we did.  And the impact on the lives of young people will continue to reverberate through the hallways of congregations, high schools, college campuses and homes for years to come.

When I saw down to write these thoughts, it was not with the intent of sounding like a 'reviewer".  But I am someone who was a part of a planning team...and I am a pastor whose young people experienced the event.  So within those two roles, and on behalf of those who had an experience like we did, I say "Thank you."

Thank you to the Heide, Donna, Rod, Diana and Bill.  Thank you to those of you who conceived of these ideas.  Thank you to the team leaders. Thank you to those who answered 1,346,232.985 phone calls with questions before the event.  Thank you to the team members.  Thank you to the volunteers.  Thank you to the convention center staff.  Thank you to the hotel staffs.  Thank you to the local congregations and the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast synod.  Thank you to the good men and women of Shepard.  Thank you to the congregational adult leaders who brought young people.  Thank you to the young people who came with open hearts and willing hands.  And most importantly, thanks be to God for being faithful.

And now the hard work begins...the work of processing the experience with the participants...the job of helping integrate the Gathering into a vibrant faith...the job of helping young people move the Gatheirng experiences from "event" to "lifestyle."

Thanks to God for what has been done...and for what will be done.

Normally things in the Network planning cycle are relatively calm at this time of year.  The timing works well...it allows the Network leadership to focus on their congregational stuff coming into summer.  This year, however, we're in the midst of a sort of a 'perfect storm' of busyness. 

First, we're doing some fundraising.  Our goal is to have all of the Network leadership folks (about 113 people) to participate.  There's a fair amount of communication going on.  It's kind of a fun thing...

Second, the E-Team is moving ahead quickly on Extravaganza stuff.  Great stuff is coming together around the ICC courses, speakers and musicians.  I'll let you in on a secret:  The first speaker we've locked down is Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Ministries.  He's going to be amazing.  More info is coming to the web site soon.

Finally, we're working frantically on the Academy at the ELCA Youth Gathering.  At the Academy, we will provide networking and support opportunities for the adults who are bringing young people to the Youth Gathering.  There will be comfy decompression rooms, places to connect with peers and colleagues, opportunities to talk about processing the Gathering experience with groups, ministry resources, a computer lab to catch up on e-mail, and more.

So it's a busy time.  But the people who work this stuf...they are second to none.  Committed, dedicated, passionate people who care about youth ministers and youth ministry. 

So to the E-Team...to the Development Team...to the Academy Team...on behalf of all of us who work with young people in congregations, thank you for giving more...for being busy,..for working on our behalf.

tb