Yesterday, Today, and Forever! Bishop Wayne Miller Metropolitan Chicago Synod

Jesus Christ the Same????? If Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today and forever… Why was he so hard to recognize??

Transformations: Somber reality Yesterday In 1988 we were a synod of 250 congregations: in 2007, 206. In 2007 we reported 110,000 baptized members Most congregations could support a building and a full time pastor Today We are a synod of 180 congregations In 2016 we reported 83,000 baptized members Nearly ONE HALF of our congregations cannot support a full time pastor

Form and substance The vision is the SAME, yesterday, today, and forever: We are here to blanket the territory of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod with Christian disciples joyfully bearing witness to the love and power of Jesus

Form and substance The form MUST change: We may never again be a synod of 250. We may not be able to support all our buildings We may not be able to support the same professional leadership structure in the same way ADAPTING TO CHANGE IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REFORMING CHURCH IN 2017

Signs of Hope: adaptive change Yesterday In 2007 we had no intervention strategy for congregational renewal In 2007 we had no organized leadership development strategy In 2007 we had no viable model for starting new communities Today We have invested $287,429 in congregational renewal through TSI We have invested $145,000 in adaptive leadership development through Intentional Impact We have launched 8 new communities on the Affiliated Mission Community model

More Signs of Adaptive Change OPEN HANDS OPEN HEARTS will be transformed for 2017 INTENTIONAL IMPACT is moving more deeply into congregations as a leadership development tool A MISSIONARY TRAINING SCHOOL has been developed under the leadership of Redeemer Park Ridge and is supported by a MISSION PLANTERS’ NETWORK

Investing in forever We cannot LIMIT ourselves to the FORM of 250 congregations Clinging to broken forms suffocates mission We can work toward 100 congregations with 300 “preaching points”

Investment strategy #1: Strong Congregations We need 100 congregations that are actively engaged in new approaches to evangelical expansion The TSI initiative will continue to support congregations looking for ways to do this Intentional Impact leadership development must become part of the culture of these congregations

Investment strategy #2: New community starts A significant number of these 100 strong congregations will need to embrace some form of the AMC new community strategy: Instead of just assimilating individuals into our congregation we walk in accompaniment with new communities

Investment strategy #3: cultivating generosity These 100 strong congregations MUST be engaged in teaching and living the principles of abundant and generous living The new form of OPEN HANDS OPEN HEARTS might help… but with or without it, we are never done teaching this

Investment strategy #4: New models for leadership Actively seeking leaders for seminary preparation is necessary but insufficient Current work with ELCA colleges to build “double majors” in church leadership and other employable skills Seminary and candidacy will be concurrent with congregational leadership rather than pre-requisite

Investment strategy #5: Peace and justice We must lead the culture beyond hostility and combat or we are simply a new expression of the PROBLEM Develop skills and opportunities for respectful listening. Anti-Racism is foundational to all future engagement around justice and peace. Find common ground by focusing on children and families

Investment strategy #6: From income to wealth Our form is changing: Congregations are smaller Wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few Need is growing among those with no wealth Christ calls us to the margins Growth in the weekly offering plate is necessary but insufficient to fund our cherished missions

Investment strategy #6: From income to wealth Through several large and unexpected gifts, totaling over $4 Million, the synod finds itself in a position to build a more diverse endowment funding strategy Endowments must be used to fund mission that CANNOT be supported by the offering plate alone A more diversified endowment strategy will invite more congregations and individuals to participate

Investment strategy #6: From income to wealth Fund for Mission Begun by Bishop Kenneth Olsen in 1997 with a goal of $5 Million endowment principal Seed grants to congregations for new mission Fund goal reached with a large gift from building sale by Bethel, Palatine

Investment strategy #6: From income to wealth Fund for Mission To date, fund has given $1,768,040 in congregational grants! With TSI , AMC, Re-development, Churchwide Partnership and Leadership grants, synod has given over $6 Million in mission grants since 2007 The $5 Million fund balance will allow us to indefinitely fund 4 AMCs each year

Investment strategy #6: From income to wealth Advocate/ MCS Poverty Endowment Begun this year with unrestricted one-time partnership gift from Advocate Health Care: $1.5 Million Designated by Synod Council as endowment for mission on the margins, where self-sustaining congregation models are difficult or impossible

Investment strategy #6: From income to wealth MCS Campus Ministry Endowment Begun by Synod Council this year with a goal of $2 Million principal Earnings will provide ongoing support for the campus ministries of the synod

Investment strategy #6: From income to wealth Leadership Development Fund Currently under development by Synod Council with goal of $1 Million principal Still under consideration: Should this be clergy focused? Should this be lay leadership focused? Should this be used to develop more opportunities for our rostered Word and Service ministers?

Investment strategy #7: Partnership Greater Impact together than alone: ELCA World Hunger Wheat Ridge Related Foundations Ecumenical/ Interfaith partnerships Community Engagement

Investment strategy #7: Partnership REGULAR MISSION SUPPORT from congregations is still first and essential… 52 congregations of this synod INCREASED their regular mission support this year!!!

A bright forever begins today!