Network Blog

Where has innovation gone?

There once was a time when an entire cottage industry (and in some cases, some big business) had developed around creativity and innovation in youth ministry.  Ok...back then, we just called it youth ministry, but you get the idea.

People were thinking around new and creative ways to communicate the Gospel to young people.  Now, have to be honest here:  It wasn't all good.  Really.  "Chubby Bunnies", while funny to watch, might not have had a lot of spiritual impact...and I'm not at all sure of the ecclesiological meaning behind the game "tapehead."  

Ministry with young people was didactic.  It was straightforward.  We told...they heard...we all went out for pizza.  <Broad, sweeping generalization alert here> There wasn't a lot of theological depth to those things.  These things were the "invitation."  They were the "right to be heard."  It could be (and has been) argued that they were the "bait" in the giant game of  "bait and switch" that we all played.

But just as I don't want to inappropriately romanticize the old days, I don't want to demonize them either.  The heart was in the right place...it was genuine.  Youth ministry wanted real Christ-centered transformation to happen.  And so a lot of time and attention went into being innovative and creative to communicate the truths of the gospel.  

It may not always have been deep, but it was often clever.

Now, we are (rightfully) much more interested in theological reflection than we were.  We aim deeper.  And we know the value of connecting the faith formation in our congregations to the faith formation that is happening in homes.

No one disputes the importance of this.  I've never heard anyone say "gee, I wish our ministry was more shallow."  But having said that, I wonder where the innovation is?  How is this deeper, more theologically aware ministry living itself out?  Lots of new material is being written about why we should be moving in this direction.  What I am not reading is "how" we can creatively think about these things.  What does it look like?  What is the praxis that parallels our theory?

I would like the Network to be the place that this conversation is taking place.  I would love it if we could make this web site a clearinghouse, and a living laboratory for this kind of thinking.  Perhaps it's kind of a free "Criagslist" for resources.  

My theory is this:  Once upon a time youth ministers depended on the resource providers to tell us what we needed to do, and then how to do it.  This was a necessary phase in the development of a ministry practice and discipline.

Now, the practitioners have the history...the education and the expertise to set the agenda and to provide at least a significant portion of the resources.

So let's be the Network.  Let's figure out a way to share this expertise.  And let's give these things to each other.  Let's suppport each other in our work and ministry.

How?

Not sure yet.

Ideas?

I'd love to hear them.  Please post comments below.

More to come, as the conversation continues.

Pax,
Todd.

What is the future of the ELCA?  Of denominations in general?  What does it mean to be a part of our denominational tribe today?  What will it mean in 5, 10 or 20 years?

We are approaching the 1 year anniversary of the decisions made at the Churchwide Assembly last August in Minneapolis.  It has been a challenging year for our church.  For many of us in congregations, the ripple effects from the assembly hit more like tidal waves.  And the state of the economy led to staff cuts in our denominational offices that significantly diminished the capacity for mission...and cost many of our friends their positions.

There was a period of time when I (and I'm just speaking for myself here) really felt like the wheels were coming off of the wagon.  And I kept waiting for things to get better.  Still waiting. 

Since then, I keep hearing of congregations that are leaving...of friends whose jobs are at risk...of congregational conflict...

I started to wonder about the future.  Is there a place for denominations in the future?  Our denomination in particular?  Certainly there is a need...certainly there is a role...

I had some of my hope restored a month or two ago when I heard of the LiftELCA initiative.  A team has been assembled to look at the future of our denomination.  This is the LIFT (Living Into the Future Together) team.  "Their purpose is to develop and recommend options for the future of the ELCA in light of its identity, changes in its environment and its call to God's mission. "

2 things I am grateful for:
1.  I am grateful that someone in our denominational leadership has thought to ask these questions.  Frequently it is those in leadership that are the least aware of, or the least willing to ask the difficult questions. 
2.  I am grateful that the LIFT team has taken an attitude of transparency in their work.  Look at their web site.  It's all there.  Check out their Twitter feed...visit their Facebook page.  Accessibility has been their hallmark, and I am grateful for this.

There is currently a LIFT questionnaire that they are asking members of the ELCA to fill out. 

I care about our denomination.  I care about the work of the church as manifest within our community.  Like everyone else, I have thoughts...I have opinions. 

I am grateful that our church has a group who wants to listen to my (and everyone else's) thoughts about God's misison within our church. 

Please participate.  Please invest.  Please allow the Spirit of God to blow through you and into the rest of our church.  Speak.  And listen.

Pax,
Todd.

Who Are Our Leaders?  Meet Monty Lynse!

Welcome back to our occasional series of articles on "Who Are Our Leaders?"  This time, we introduce:  Monty Lynse (he's the one on the left)

The Vital Stats:
Name:  Monty Lynse
Works at: Faith Inkubators
Job: National Director of Youth and Family Ministry

The part of youth ministry I like best is: sharing stories and tips with other youth workers and pastors. I also love church camp and mission trips.

 

The part of youth ministry I struggle with most is: getting parents to realize that even though they didn’t pay attention in confirmation, they can still be a strong, regular faith mentor in the life of their kid. They just need encouragement, a plan, and the right tools.

 

My favorite ministry resources are: (Homer Alert) Faith Inkubators Head to the Heart confirmation materials. I’ve worked for over a decade on this stuff and wouldn’t have spent the time if I didn’t think it helped churches, kids and parents.

 

 

If I could have a super power it would be: the super-strength to break through many parents’ “drop them off at church” syndrome, because, as overwhelming as it may be, kids need regular faith talk at home. You don’t become fluent in a language by going to class once a week. You become fluent when you are regularly immersed in the language. It’s the same with the language of faith.

 

I take care of myself in ministry by: continually trying to get good ideas from others. I’m smart enough to know that I don’t know it all.

 

I would tell someone just starting in ministry: that it is a fantastic way to live out your faith in a way that impacts kids and parents on a regular basis. It can be frustrating, but extremely fulfilling. It may even be the one job that is so fun, you say to yourself, “They actually PAY me to do this?” every time you get a paycheck.

I appreciate the Network for: community. I appreciate the camaraderie and wisdom that the network provides through its events, communication, and members in general.

We got word today of significant budget cuts in the ELCA.  This is not new.  We have seen our denomination experience this before.  And in the economy that we live in, we hear of cuts every day.  Business...education...government...non-profits... hearing of job losses is nothing new.

But today is new.  For the first time I can recall, youth ministry positions in an already small department have been cut.  What does this mean?

• What does it mean when before the 1988 merger there were something like 17 youth ministry staff in the 3 predecessor bodies deployed around the country.  Now we're down to a director, a Gathering Director, a Gathering Assistant Director and a support staff?
• What does it mean when the church is being asked to do more with less?
• What does it mean when churches withhold beneveolent support to make a statement?
• What does it mean when some claim that we are moving into a post-denominational era?

There are many more questions than answers.  And there will be time and space to talk about these things.

But today we need to focus on a different "what does this mean?" question:

What does it mean when our friends have lost their jobs?  What does it mean for them?  For their families?  For their colleagues and friends?

This is the most difficult and yet the most important of the questions we can ask today.  The other questions can wait.

So for today, what does this mean?  :It means that we have friends who are hurting.  There are people who have done good work over the years on behalf of the church...on behalf of congregations...on behalf of young people...on behalf of the Network.  And now they are hurting.  Dianha and Rod, please know that you have friends who know you are hurting.  You have friends who are praying for you.  And remember the God of grace who surrounds with love and grace.  In our prayers, we hope you feel that grace today.

This Network was formed because people doing ministry needed support.  It's time to be the Network for each other.

Peace in troubled times,

tb

I have discovered that I am keenly aware of routine.  This is not to be confused with a "rut."  Not the same thing...not at all.  All evidence points me to the conclusion that God created the world to be cyclical in nature.  There are rhythms...routines...ebbs...flows...and that I have spent a lot of energy in my life trying to fight that.  Maybe I'm just getting old, (well...ok...I AM getting old) but I have decided that fighting tha natural rhythms of the universe aren't worth it.

I write this today from our local Caribou coffee shop.  Lori (she who was silly to say 'yes' when I asked over 15 years ago) and I have a routine now.  Thursdays are my day off from my congregational responsibilities.  So on Thursdays we go to Caribou in the morning after the kids go to school for coffee (Lori) and tea (me.)  We both have laptops.  Lori, who works from home on her own schedule, typically does her work.  I will do Network stuff...reply to some e-mails...play on facebook...or work on other ancillary projects.  We are now 3 weeks into the school year routine.  It's interesting how many of the same people I see every week, who are living out their routines.

The year has rhythms.  In youth ministry, Advent is frequently a season when we pull back on programming.  Why fight the busy-ness that families experience?  Jan-March is retreat season with lots of weekend  stuff.  March - May has a different pace, as we focus on our regular weekly programs.  We intentionally cut back our ministry programming, ending our school year programs usually in the first week of May.  May becomes a bit of a breather...a time of transition to summer. 

Summer is a full-all-out sprint.  It is a blur in June and July.

August, we try to take a breath and pull back on programming again as people are doing their 'last' weekends up at cabins, preparing for school, etc...

September is nutty with start-up school year programming again.  I live for the 3rd or 4th week of September when our schedule begins to hit a 'routine' again.  (Monday night sr. high...Tuesday afternoon Bible study...Wednesday night conf...etc...)

There are habits...rhythms...routines to ministry.

For the Network, this is annually the time of year that makes me nervous.  My biggest concern is cash-flow.  Can we pay our bills?  Extravaganza registrations just begin to come in, the money we've saved fro last year is running out, and the bils keep coming.

It's part of the rhythm.  Of course, I can't wait for the day when it ceases to make me nervous. 

It makes me wonder what are the other rhythms in my life?  And are there other natural rhythms I continue to fight?  Are there ways God has created the world that I continue to resist in my ignorance and/or arrogance?  Probably.

My prayer is for the peace to recognize and accept what God is doing in the rhythms of my life and my ministry.

tb

Next in our series of "getting to know folks"...we're really excited to introduce: Rozella Poston! 

Name: Rozella Poston Congregation: Mediator Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, PA Email: rozella.poston@gmail.com Network Leadership Role: "Connect Journal" Leadership Team 1.  The part of youth ministry I like best is: The privilege of walking among young theologians and inviting unsuspecting adults into a world of child-like faith. 2.  The part of youth ministry I struggle with most is: The seemingly limited nature of time and energy that is needed to minister to each youth and family 3.  My favorite ministry resources are: The Bible, pop culture, pastoral care resources 4.  If I could have a super power it would be: The ability to restore lives affected by abuse of any time so that all would experience abundant life in their hearts, minds, bodies and souls 5.  I take care of myself in ministry by: I don't, if I am honest. 6.  I would tell someone just starting in ministry:  Have faith, expand your knowledge, be patient and gracious 7.  I appreciate the Network for: connecting the workers in the vineyard and the visionary role they have in the continued exploration of youth & family ministry.

We're unveiling a new, "occasional" feature.  In an attempt to help folks get to know more about our Network leadership, we're going to introduce people!  It should be kind of fun! 

Today, we're introducing Jamie Travers!

Name:  Jamie Travers Congregation/Organization:  St. Olaf Lutheran Church,          Devils Lake ND and Network Regional Facilitaor E-Mail: jamie@elcaymnet.org 1.  The part of youth ministry I like best is:           Sharing the Gospel with youth and families.  2.  The part of youth ministry I struggle with most is:          Finding enough time for everything 3.  My favorite ministry resources are:          Books and resources about Family ministry. 4.  If I could have a super power it would be: To have perfect aim, because I am not really good at sports, but I think it would be fun to always be able to make a basket or kick a goal or throw a ball or anything for any bit of distance and be able to always connect or hit the target perfectly every time. 5.  I take care of myself in ministry by:          Making sure to spend time in prayer. 6.  I would tell someone just starting in ministry:          to continue growing in faith, to continue to learn about ministry,Bible, theology, etc. and get connected with others \ 7.  I appreciate the Network for: it’s support and resources, especially staying connected with others in ministry.

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.

It has been a tough week in the Buegler household.

Normally, I use this space for info about the Network...please allow me to deviate from that for an entry.

Our youngest son, Samuel, was hospitalized this past week.  The short version:

According to the Infectious disease doctor, Samuel must have been carrying around the Strep Group A bacteria for quite awhile. (It went through our household 6-8 weeks ago, and according to the doc, yes, it can remain dormant in the body for that long and longer.)  Sam had a very minor injury a week ago last Friday.  Swimming in the Community Center pool, he hyper-extended his fingers.  No big deal.

He developed a fever.  We thought it must be a cold or flu.  His fingers were sore; of course, he'd bent them.

Saturday, he remained the same.

Sunday morning, the pain was worse, there was swelling in the arm, and a suspiscious red spot had developed over his wrist.  I had to go to worship; Lori took Sam to our clinic, which is open Sunday morning.  They sent Sam straight to the hospital.  They were concerned about an infection in the bone...(read: really bad.)

It wound up being an infection in the wrist joint.  Also bad, but not as bad.

So, 18 doctors, 2 hospitals, 1 surgery, 1 procedure and now 6 weeks of IV anti-biotics to look forward to, hopefully Sam is on the mend. 

As we took this journey, I tweeted what was happening.  Twitter feeds my Facebook status.  Little updates of where we were at and what was going on.  I have to admit, I wondered whether this was 'appropriate' or not.  After all, as a card-carrying stoic norwiegen, we're pretty private people.  And many folks I don't know that well receive my updates.

But the other prospect was answering a zillion phone calls...telling the story over and over and over and over again...

So I twittered my son's illness.

What was fascinating to me was the response.  I'd post something up and would quickly, within 30-60 minutes, have tons of responses:  Well wishers, people promising to pray, people asking us what we 'need'...It was amazing...overwhelming, actually.

And when significant events took place, the same thing happened.  At 9pm on Tuesday night I twittered something like "We're on our way to surgery."  Wham.  Instant responses.  Almost overwhelming.

So flash-forward a couple of days:  The sr. pastor with whom I am blessed to serve is visiting us in the hospital and the conversation turns to prayer requests and then to these Tweets and Facebook updates.  I explain to him what Lori and I'd experienced, and I showed him the posts and the responses. 

His response:  "This is church." 

This is church.

Yes, it is.  It's a different kind of church.  It's not structural...it's organic.  But is the Holy Spirit any less present?  Not in what I experienced.  I experienced the love and grace of God in a way that couldn't otherwise have happened.  God's grace moved in those notes in ways that stirred our hearts.  Healing, emotional and physical took place because of the prayers of the hundreds who read and followed. 

This is church.

Some may not be comfortable with it.  Some may not understand it.  Some may diminish it.  Their claim is that real relationships cannot be lived out online.  Speaking as an immigrant to the digital culture, I respectfully disagree.  The prayers and support that was communicated to me via short, 140 character messages lifted our hearts and brought healing to us.  It is a different form of community, but it is community.  And I belive that it is the work of God's Spirit.

This is church.  There are not walls.  There are not boundaries. It shouldn't diminish traditional church as we have known it, and it certainly won't replace it.  But it is one of the ways that God draws together the twos and threes...the tens, hundreds and thousands.  It is one of the places the Spirit blows and it cannot be ignored.

This is church.

tb

Lori and I brought Sam, age 6, to a birthday party on Friday.  It was for the birthday of a classmate.  One that we didn't know, and whose parents we didn't know.

Now you have to understand something first about little-kids birthdays.  They are normally pretty tame, controlled events; at least the ones we have participated in before.  Example:  In our house, the boys get to invite as many friends as they are years old.  So when Sam turned 6, he got to invite 6 friends.  There are games...activities...gift bags (don't get me started...) There are social norms for kids birthday parties.

This isn't what we experienced on Friday.

When we pulled up to the house, the yard was crawling with kids.  It was chaotic.  They had rented a bouncy thing...the kind with an obstacle course and then a big slide.  It was nuts.  Kids weren't sliding.  They were sitting on the top, and then jumping down to bounce on the 'landing pad' 1000 feet below.  Ok, maybe just 6 feet, but it looked like 1000.  They'd bounce off of the pad and then land on the CONCRETE sidewalk. 

There were no parents around watching things.  The parents were greeting other parents in the garage area...then the other parents were leaving. 

I said to Lori "This doesn't look good."  "I know." 

Sam, of course, looked like he gone to heaven.  He was ready to go.  What do we do?  Lori went up and introduced herself to the Mother.  She was very nice.  They didn't take oiur cell phone number.  Lori walked back to the car.  She looked at me: "I'm not sure what to do...I could offer to stay, but what that be too pushy?"  "I don't know." 

Sam is smart and pretty wise for his age.  He's also uses caution.  He may talk a good game, but he's pretty careful.

We went.

2 hours later, Lori picked him up.  He was fine.

But the whole thing made me wonder:  When a parent pulls up to Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, Minnesota, to bring their young person to an event/retreat/confirmation night/youth group/whatever for which I or one of my colleagues are responsible for, what do they see?  How do they feel?  Do we instill confidence?  Do they go back out to the car and say "I'm not so sure about this?"  Do they trust us?  Do we give them reason to? 

We'd better. 

The trust of the parents is the #1 asset we have.  Squander it and we're dead in the water...becalmed. 

The Standards and Guidelines initiative that the Network is putting together under the leadership of Tammy Jones West, is all about this.  Are we as ministers worth being trusted?  Are our ministries?  Are our congregations? 

How can we be most effective...most trustworthy...most allied with parents, who are our primary partners in this ministry?   This is the challenge that sits before us.  More will be coming out soon for people to review.  We'd love your feedback.  Watch the e-news for more information and drafts to review.

Some people are threatened by standards and guidelines.  Don't be.  We are putting them together that we might be freed to be the best, the most excellent, the most trustworthy that we can be in this ministry.

Our young people and their families deserve nothing less.

tb