THE RATIONALE FOR THE PROPOSED NEW

THE Rationale for the Proposed NEW

SENIOR-ASSOCIATE Pastoral Model

Our Saviour Lutheran, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Written by David H. Hatch

Version 11/17/2004 03:46:47 PM

Background: This document is one of a four-part bundle of documents created in the fall of 2004 in advance of a 2005 pastoral vacancy at Our Saviour Lutheran Church.

The four-part bundle of documents are:

1.) “THE Rationale for the Proposed NEW SENIOR-ASSOCIATE Pastoral Model”. This document describes the vision behind the pastoral model, and gives direction to the pastoral and congregational course. Written by DH Hatch.

2.) “SENIOR PASTOR JOB DESCRIPTION”. This document is a hybrid, with sources including a standard Luther pastor job description; text added by DH Hatch; and some text borrowed from current LCMS pastoral job description models.

3.) “ASSOCIATE PASTOR JOB DESCRIPTION”. This document is also a hybrid, with the same sources as the previous document.

4.) "TEAM-MINISTRY - DAY-TO-DAY TASKS”. This document describes the daily and specific ministry tasks of the pastors and DCE. This document is a refreshed version of the day to day ministry tasks done by Co-Pastors, Callesen and Hatch, from 1989-2004.

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In this document you will find…

· REMEMBERING OUR CALL

· WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM

· WHERE WE ARE NOW

· TARGETING MORE THAN THE SOUL

· INTRODUCING WHOLE MAN MINISTRY

· SEEING THE WHOLE MAN NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY

· PUTTING MINISTRY-ENERGY INTO OUR COMMUNITY

· ENGAGING THE PROGRAM OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH

· SUGGESTED EXAMPLES OF WHOLE MAN MINISTRY IMPLEMENTATION

REMEMBERING OUR CALL

We remember the Great Commission that started our family so long ago, “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

As we step pass a milestone and walk into the future, we also remember that Christ's mission call to us is for the whole man, soul, mind and body! And the whole man, by nature, is incomplete and has needs! It was often through recognizing people's brokenness and needs that He reached into their soul! As we read this document, may we keep that in mind.

WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM

Our Saviour has enjoyed a rich history with Called ministers feeding the sheep among us.

For 62 years we have grown in faith, number and physical size. Our membership has flourished from a handful of founding members in a school basement in 1942 to over a 1000 souls in a modern new facility.

We have bought land twice. We have built structures four times, held several mortgages and burned all but one of them. Two sons of our congregation have been Called to pastoral ministry and now shepherd congregations with the same simple Gospel message they learned, here, in our Sunday School.

Our Saviour's family has been given the gift of hope over these years. Untold numbers of children and adults have been baptized. Scores of youngsters have confirmed their faith here. Young and old alike have grown through studies in the Word. The Lord's Supper has been a healing place for us. Hundreds of couples began and continue the joyful walk of Christian marriage. At the counseling table, lives have been changed, marriages saved, broken relationships restored. A long line of spiritual pilgrims have crossed over from death to life, and been laid to rest from here. We have enjoyed nearly ten thousand worship services.

During these years the community surrounding us has witnessed the touch of Christ through our hands.

WHERE WE ARE NOW

62 years have passed since Our Saviour's inception. And now we have…

TARGETING MORE THAN THE SOUL

We Lutherans have been primarily targeting the needs of the soul and have often fallen short on meeting the other needs of the whole man.

Our Lord cared for more than the soul, shown when he healed the lepers, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and hope to the discouraged! Jesus said, "Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest…" Matthew 11:28

Jesus still works that way.

The families in our community struggle with the same needs as that of the whole man down through time. These are not the needs that are satisfied with the typical handouts, these are needs that go deep…

· Folks grieve over the loss of loved ones

· Many are in pain in the long suffering of human illness

· Some long for work

· Many suffer depression, discouragement and loneliness

· People often fear the future

· Wedding vows are strained in family differences

· Many are burdened with unhealthy dependencies

· Children are being scarred in broken families

· Immigrants struggle with language and culture changes

· The aging have housing and health concerns, worry and loneliness

· People seek money management skills

· The Lord has brought the "Nations" to our doorstep

· The "Baby Boomers" are aging

· Young people are struggling with morals

In the midst of these common needs, Christ seeks to bring hope, longs to restore the family, and offers tools for survival. As mentioned earlier, Christ often touches the soul through human need and brokenness.

INTRODUCING WHOLE MAN MINISTRY

We are fully equipped for mission! It is time to rekindle that Gospel mission to serve the whole man, as the Scripture describes…

SEEING THE WHOLE MAN NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY

We are strategically placed. The community is changing, rapidly!

The community outside the city's "beltway" is exploding in growth
The area inside that beltway is undergoing enormous changes as well
Many residents in area neighborhoods are becoming elderly
Many residents in area neighborhoods are moving to the suburbs as new families take their place
New homes are going in by the score within easy driving distance of us
There are an increasing number of apartments within easy walking distance of OSLC
Dozens of seniors are joyfully setting up housekeeping in new facilities almost in the shadow of our steeple
Human need is alive and well in our midst
Our mission field is ripe, close and waiting

PUTTING MINISTRY-ENERGY INTO OUR COMMUNITY

We need a community outreach specialist to help us identify the human needs in our area and to guide us in reaching those in need.

I am recommending the following Called ministry team:

Senior Pastor as lead shepherd
Associate Pastor as community outreach specialist
Director of Christian Education [In place now]

With strategically shared and divided task-assignments between a Called ministry team*, an Associate Pastor can be freed up for a special ministry focus in leading and training our congregation in community outreach.

In reaching out with a whole man ministry, we will be doing what the Lord asks of us. We will be answering His call. We will be filling our building with ministry, with new faces, with lives that will be touched with the saving grace of Christ.

ENGAGING THE PROGRAM OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Below are bullet-points from the working draft of the "Prospective Associate Pastor Job Description"**. If approved, the Associate Pastor would do the tasks below prioritizing his energy in the following order:

Teach: Teach the Gospel in it's simplicity to the congregation, instilling in them a passion for "The Great Commission".

Build the Evangelism team: Partnering with the Board of Evangelism, increase that board's number of members, deepen that board's passion for outreach and set attainable goals with them.

Train: Alongside the Board of Evangelism, train the congregation (via Bible classes; field trips; use of media; guest speakers; mission trips; and hands-on experience; etc.) in community-missions to the whole man.

Hospitality: Coordinating with the Board of Evangelism, design and implement caring and effective visitor welcoming methods with a mechanism(s) for speedy visitor follow-up.

Assimilation: Tapping into the resources of the congregational membership and the various ministry boards - create effective assimilation programs and methods for new-members. Specifically, create programs and tools that will help weave a new member into the congregational family, allowing them to feel at home here and to feel a sense of ownership in this congregation.

Market: Together with the Board of Evangelism, bring a renewed awareness to the overall community about Our Saviour's presence, her worship times, her program offerings and the hope she offers the human family, in Christ.

Scout the needs: Partnering with the Board of Evangelism, locate the obvious and hidden mission opportunities in the greater community. Identify the human needs in our area.

Program launching: Coordinating with the Senior Pastor and the ministry boards of the Church Council - Design and implement "Whole Man Ministry" events and programs inside and outside of our facility. Seek to actively involve the congregation in these programs (as some of our members will be leaders while others will be participants).

Reporting: Report monthly on the progress of the goals that were set by the Board of Evangelism to the Senior Pastor and the Church Council.

SUGGESTED EXAMPLES OF WHOLE MAN MINISTRY IMPLEMENTATION

As examples, the following classes, support groups and events could be marketed to the community using our own or outside leadership. In each event a Gospel message or devotional is incorporated along with an invitation to join our congregational family in other activities. These events would be a whole man ministry, filling the needs of the people of our community, and harnessing our building for His cause.

Spiritual development Classes

· Cooking Skills

· Public Speaking

· Powder Puff Mechanics

· Communications Skills Improvement

· Learning Spanish

· "How to Get a Job"

· Self Defense

· Menu Planning for the Family

· How to Prepare a Resume'

· Learning Interview Skills

· Hobby Classes

· Learning the PC

· Money Management

· Learning How to Forgive

· Living With Your In-laws

· Living on a Smile and a Shoestring