Candidates for ministry: blessings from a gracious God
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
At Martin Luther College and at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, God is again demonstrating his love for his church by providing dozens of young people who are led by him to say, "Here am I; send me!"
Last week at Martin Luther College, 80 candidates for the teaching ministry were assigned to their field of service. As they received their calls, our entire synod was reminded of God's promises for the future. These newly minted teachers will enter elementary schools, early childhood programs, prep schools, and Lutheran high schools. They are well prepared to teach and to guide and to encourage. Most important, they are equipped to play a vital role in teaching future generations of God's people to know the love of Christ.
This week at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, vicars and graduates will be assigned. The vicars will spend the next year learning the practical aspects of the pastoral ministry before returning for their final year of seminary studies. Graduates will be assigned to their first year of service in the pastoral ministry. They, too, represent God's precious gifts to his church—young men who will continue to proclaim God's truth and to share the comfort of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When so many other church bodies are experiencing shortages of workers, we count it as a special blessing that we have been blessed with such a large number of young people willing to dedicate their lives to full-time service in the church.
At Martin Luther College, there were 21 candidates available for service anywhere who were not assigned on call day. We do not yet know if any seminary graduates will not be assigned later this week.
The assignment process for both pastors and teachers, however, does not end. Throughout the coming months, the Conference of Presidents will assign candidates as soon as they receive requests from congregations. Please keep all of our unassigned candidates and their families in your prayers. We will want to ask God to give them a strong faith rooted in his Word, joy that flows from the gospel, and a patient trust that comes from knowing that their times are in the hands of a gracious God.
Proposed budget outlines impact of reductions
Last week the Synodical Council released additional details about the proposed synodical budget that will be considered by the synod convention this summer. With expected financial resources approximately $8 million less than needed, all areas of ministry are preparing to make significant cuts in their staffing and programs. Because of the extent and urgency of the budget reductions, some ministry positions are being eliminated immediately—you may be hearing about them from various sources. Waiting longer to begin those reductions would mean additional cuts later on.
The proposed budget includes two options. Option A calls for significant reductions in all areas of ministry but would enable the synod to maintain its two ministerial education prep schools. Option B would shift funds from Ministerial Education and provide $500,000 each to Home and World Missions; this shift would result in fewer reductions in mission programs at home and in various mission fields around the world. According to the Board for Ministerial Education, Option B would make it possible to operate only one synodical prep school after the coming year.
The Synodical Council chose to present two options because it recognized that there are clear differences of opinion on how best to allocate the synod's limited resources. Rather than choosing one of those options and recommending it, the Synodical Council determined that it could best serve the synod if it presented two clear choices and enabled the delegates at the convention to make an informed, prayerful decision.
Here is a brief summary of some of the reductions required by the proposed budget:
World Missions
Option A
- Overall 23.5 manpower positions are unfunded; of the 23 positions, 15 existing missionaries will be recalled from the field, 4 are vacant positions that will not be filled, and 4 were planned positions.
- All existing fields affected but still served at a reduced level; unable to enter 1 new field (Mozambique) as planned.
Option B
- Four missionary positions eliminated under Option A are able to be retained under Option B.
Home Missions
Option A
- 21 called positions (18 pastors and 3 staff ministers) likely cannot be maintained; 2 of these are currently vacant.
- 13 mission fields likely to be lost.
Option B
- Retains 7 of the 18 pastoral ministries listed above.
- Six of the 13 fields potentially lost under Option A would be retained.
Ministerial Education administration
Options A and B
- Allows for only a minimum level of program maintenance at the schools.
- Reduces financial assistance provided by the budget.
- Elimination of 1 clerical support staff.
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
Options A and B
- Maintains existing faculty strength.
- Several staff positions removed from the budget and funded from non-budgetary sources.
- All areas of operation reduced to the lowest possible level of funding.
Martin Luther College
Options A and B
- Reduction of 25 faculty and staff positions (of these 9.5 positions are vacant).
- Increased teaching loads required of faculty.
Luther Preparatory School
Options A and B
- Five faculty positions and 6 support staff positions eliminated.
Michigan Lutheran Seminary
Option A
- Eight faculty and 5 support staff positions eliminated.
Option B
- In the first year of the biennium, Michigan Lutheran Seminary is funded by a combination of reduced synod subsidy and Ministerial Education special funds.
- In the second year of the biennium, the school is not viable, and all remaining faculty and staff positions are eliminated.
Parish Services
Options A and B
- Position of the Parish Services administrator eliminated; 2 unit administrators and 4 support staff positions to be eliminated.
- Most ministry functions supported by special funds and fees.
- Retains Commissions for Parish Schools and Special Ministries as distinct entities with their own administrators; reconfigures remaining units of Parish Services into a new combined group (possibly called the Congregational Ministries Resource team) to carry out the functions of Adult Discipleship, Youth Discipleship, Worship, Evangelism, and Parish Assistance.
Ministry Support
Options A and B
- Reduces programs and budget overseen by the Conference of Presidents and the Synodical Council.
- Eliminates a total of 17 positions, reducing called and hired staffing from 72 to 57 within the areas of Facilities, Technology, Leadership, Christian Giving, Communication Services, and Financial Services.
The Book of Reports and Memorials will be posted online by the end of next week with detailed information regarding the proposed budget and the impact on the various areas of ministry. Until then, a budget overview sent to called workers and delegates last week is available for download.
As you begin to grasp the reality of our situation, I know that you join me in the prayer that God will guide our discussion and decisions, and in the confidence that his gracious promises remain with us in these challenging times.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: Budget, call, Finance, Ministerial Education, Missions, MLC, Synod Convention, WLS
Top Stories
Compiled by WELS Communication Services
WELS members safe from California wildfire
Members of Our Redeemer, Santa Barbara, Calif., are safe after a wildfire that had already consumed 8,600 acres and about 80 homes came within two miles of the church and even closer to congregation members' homes May 8. A change of weather helped firefighters get the fire under control.
"The real thanks goes first to the Lord," says Rev. Jim Proeber. "He controls the wind and the elements, so the 'sundowners' (50-60 mph winds) that should have appeared [May 8] never materialized." According to Proeber, if the predicted winds had materialized, the fire could have spread much further and faster.
Proeber and six other families from Our Redeemer were evacuated along with 30,000 other residents in the Santa Barbara area. Most evacuees were allowed to return to their homes the next day. The church and parsonage as well as the members' homes were spared.
"It gives one reason to pause and consider all the Lord does provide and how he works in our lives," says Proeber. "It also makes one rethink what is really important when you are given the warning to evacuate. To him be praise and glory!"
Filed Under: California, Fire
Community drawn to new Las Vegas mission
First worship services were held May 10 at Shepherd of the Hills, Las Vegas—one of six new congregations established last year with the assistance of Home Missions. More than 120 people attended; Rev. Aaron Strong says he was expecting between 50 and 70.
"It was amazing; I just couldn't believe it and I still can't believe it," says Strong. Of the 100 first-time visitors, he says about one-third were existing prospects; the rest were new faces who had seen flyers, mailings, and newspaper ads. "It's amazing to see how God answers prayers," he says.
Since Strong arrived last July, he has been canvassing communities in northwest Las Vegas. He says this growing region has many young families; about half are unchurched. "One of the big things we picked up on is this area needs a church—we are one of the few Christian churches in the five-mile vicinity," he says. "There are also a lot of families looking for family activities and programs, so that's going to be a big part of our ministry."
Shepherd of the Hills currently offers a family Bible hour on Sundays and monthly family fellowship activities; in the future Strong says he hopes to add a program for parents and young children, vacation Bible school, and Easter and Christmas for Kids.
"I pray that God continue to keep us faithful to the work we're doing," he says. "It's always kind of easy to look back at all the work we put in to get to this point and then think, 'Okay, now we can just sit back and enjoy.' But there are still a lot of people out there who need to hear the Word, and we want to continue to reach out to and feed them with the Word each week."
Filed Under: Home Missions, Nevada
A new look at stewardship
Development work has begun on new congregation stewardship resources based on the new phrase chosen to identify the synod: "Christ's Love, Our Calling."
The intent is to extend the annual synod stewardship emphasis into a gospel-motivated, multi-layered, year-round spiritual growth effort. The Commission on Adult Discipleship is designing the resources to focus on one aspect of our calling as Christians in each of the next four years: to seek, to serve, to share, and to speak.
Rev. Dave Kehl, administrator of Adult Discipleship, says although one aim of the effort is to make the new identity phrase "click" in the lives of laypeople, there is so much more. "We want to heighten the appreciation of our identity as saints in Christ and to encourage lives worthy of the calling we have received," says Kehl. "We want to provide a pattern for people to follow to establish new spiritual habits in a world that has drawn us away from godly living."
Congregation resources for the first year of the effort, including worship resources, Bible studies, PowerPoint presentations, home devotions, and more, will be available after synod convention this summer. Congregations will be receiving an introductory mailer this week.
Filed Under: adult discipleship, stewardship
WELS in the news
On May 6, Fox 11 news, Green Bay, Wis., profiled Faith Lutheran School, Fond du Lac, for its efforts to teach a fading skill—penmanship. Faith Lutheran School was also featured in a May 4 article in the Fond du Lac Reporter.
Spotlight on Streams: watch services live
Commencement events at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., will be streamed live this week:
- Vicar call service, 7 p.m., May 19
- Call Day service, 10 a.m., May 21
- Graduation concert, 7 p.m., May 21
- Graduation, 10 a.m., May 22
The graduation service, as well as the call services and commencement concert, will be streamed live on WELS' Internet media network, Streams.
Filed Under: commencement, MLC, Streams, WLS
